The hippo...hypo....WHAT?
February 4th 2008 08:11
Signature Tune
In posts about memory and the brain you will have seen mention of the hippocampus and the hypothalamus so I thought it might be a good idea to give you an idea of where they lie in the brain and how they assist with, and what their function is, with respect to memory.
The images below give you a 'flat' idea of where they are, what you really need is a 3D model but that is not available here.
To understand these two areas of the brain you must first know a little about memory.
Essentially there are at least three kinds of memory.
The most short term is working memory critical for adding numbers, composing a sentence, following directions, etc. This is a cortical function and not related to the hippocampus. It does not become a permanent memory.
The second kind is long-term or declarative memory, and is composed of all the facts, figures, and names you have ever learned. All of your experiences and conscious memory fall into this category. The hippocampus is necessary to file away these memories as they occur.
The third type is procedural memory, and is probably the most durable form of memory. These are actions, habits, or skills that are learned simply by repetition. Examples include playing tennis, playing an instrument, solving a puzzle, etc. The hippocampus is not involved in procedural memory.
The hippocampus is critical in laying down declarative memory, but is not necessary for working memory, procedural memory, or memory storage. None of these mechanisms are clearly understood.
Now understanding of the role of the hypothalamus with respect to memory is only just emerging as the link to memory has not previously been made with this area of the brain but recent research has surprised those involved and more developments along these lines are expected.
So to all intents and purposes what you need to know is the location of these areas as shown in the images and the different types of memory involved. Of the two areas the role of the hippocampus has been much more firmly established than the hypothalamus but you should note their close proximity in the brain.
I hope this give you just a small degree of insight into the meaning of what you read and an appreciation of how complex it is.
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