Which part of the brain is essential for forming new memories?

The hippocampus is crucial for forming new memories, particularly those involving facts and experiences, known as declarative or explicit memories. This structure is located in the medial temporal lobe of the brain and plays a key role in the process of consolidating short-term memories into long-term storage. Damage to the hippocampus can result in significant memory deficits, including the inability to create new memories while typically leaving older memories intact.

Understanding the role of the hippocampus in memory formation is important to grasp how different parts of the brain contribute to cognitive functions. In contrast, the cerebellum primarily coordinates motor control and is not directly involved in memory formation. The amygdala is more associated with emotional learning and memory, particularly fear-related memories, rather than the general formation of new memories. The frontal lobe is involved in higher-level cognitive functions, including decision-making and problem-solving, but its role in memory is not as direct as that of the hippocampus.