parahippocampální

The parahippocampal region, often referred to as the parahippocampal gyrus, is a cortical area in the medial temporal lobe that surrounds the hippocampus. It comprises part of the parahippocampal cortex, with key subregions such as the entorhinal cortex and adjacent perirhinal areas. The region forms part of the wider medial temporal lobe memory system and maintains dense reciprocal connections with the hippocampus through the entorhinal cortex.

Functionally, the parahippocampal region supports memory encoding, consolidation, and retrieval, particularly episodic memory and the integration of contextual information. It also contributes to spatial navigation and scene processing; the posterior parahippocampal cortex includes the parahippocampal place area, which is selectively activated by visual scenes.

Clinically, the parahippocampal region is a key site of involvement in aging and neurodegenerative diseases, especially Alzheimer's disease, where atrophy in this area accompanies memory impairment. Functional imaging often shows altered activity in this region during memory tasks. Lesions or disruption of parahippocampal circuits can impair contextual and recollective memory, and temporal lobe epilepsy may involve this region as well.