Models of Memory Processing by the Hippocampus

Studies on H.M. revealed the importance of the hippocampus and anatomically connected cortical areas for memory and identified fundamental aspects memory supported by this brain system.  Subsequent anatomical studies have shown that these brain areas are interconnected to operate as a brain system that supports memory. But what is the nature of information processing in each of these brain areas and how do they interact with one another to support memory? Converging evidence from many studies on humans and animal models suggest a functional organization of the cortical-hippocampal system that explains how memory works.  These findings support an emerging view that the hippocampus receives separate streams of information about events and the context in which they occur, and combines these streams to create a “scaffolding” for memories that represents unique events in their spatial and temporal context and links related memories into a network of knowledge that guides our everyday lives.