Question

What is the main role of the hippocampus?

Answer 1

Hippocampus is an area of the brain that is associated primarily with memory. The name hippocampus came from the Greek word “hippocampus”. In Greek language hippos means “horse” and kampos means “sea monster”. As the structure’s shape looks like a seahorse. The hippocampus, which is situated in the medial region of the temporal lobe, forms part of the limbic system. Which is mainly significant in regulating emotional responses. It is also believed to play a vital role in spatial processing and navigation.

Complete answer:
Function –
The hippocampus is a part of the limbic system and this part is connected with the purposes of feeling and reacting. The limbic system is located on the edge of the cortex and it comprises the hypothalamus and the amygdala. These constructions help to control different bodily functions like the endocrine system and what is usually acknowledged as the “fight or flight” reaction.
Hippocampus and memory:
The hippocampus assists humans process and retrieve two kinds of memory- first one is declarative memories and the second one is spatial relationships.
Declarative memories are those associated with the facts and events. Example: learning how to memorize lines and speeches in a play.
Spatial relationship memories include pathways or routes. Example: when a cab driver learns a way through a city then they use spatial memory. Spatial relationship memories seem to be stored in the right hippocampus. The hippocampus is also a place where short term memories are turned into long term memories. These memories are then stored somewhere else in the brain. Research has shown that nerve cells continue to develop throughout adulthood. This is one of the few places in the brain where new nerve cells are created.

Additional information:
If one or both parts of the hippocampus are injured by diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease or if they are injured in an accident, then the person can experience a loss of memory and a loss of the capability to make new and long-term memories.
They may not be able to recall some things that happened shortly before the hippocampal damage. But they may still recall things that happened a long time ago. This is because the long term memories are kept in another part of the brain, once they develop as long term memory.

Note:
Transient global amnesia is a distinct form of memory loss that develops abruptly, apparently on its own and then goes away fairly quickly. Maximum people with transient global amnesia ultimately regain their memories but the reasons why the problem occurs and why it resolves are blurred. It may be because the damage to the hippocampus is involved. Damaged hippocampus can make it hard to remember how to get from one place to another. A person may be able to draw a map of his/her neighbourhood he/she lived in as a child, but finding going to a shop in a new area can be problematic. It has also been related to conditions like Schizophrenia and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).