hippocampuse

The hippocampus, a seahorse-shaped structure located deep within the temporal lobe of the brain, plays a crucial role in memory formation and spatial navigation. It is part of the limbic system, a complex network of brain structures involved in emotion, motivation, and memory. The hippocampus is comprised of two main components, the cornu ammonis and the dentate gyrus, which work in concert. Damage to the hippocampus can result in severe anterograde amnesia, the inability to form new memories, and can also impair spatial memory, making it difficult to navigate familiar environments. Neuroimaging studies have revealed that the hippocampus is highly active during memory recall and learning tasks. It is also known to undergo neurogenesis, the birth of new neurons, throughout adulthood, particularly in response to environmental enrichment and learning. This capacity for generating new neurons is thought to contribute to its plasticity and its role in learning and memory.