The Hippocampus
Your brain’s memory storage command center
We’ve been talking about the brain for a while now, and I hope you are all jazzed up to continue with the second part of the limbic system, the hippocampus. My second favorite part of the brain. You’ll learn why soon!
It is a paired curved structure that’s tucked inside the limbic system or central part of the brain. The hippocampus is located just above each ear, about 1½ inches inside your head.
Ever wondered why a particular scent triggers something that happened a while back?
Well, that’s the hippocampus in play AKA memory storage command center.
Mankind has known about it for centuries making it one of the most studied parts of the brain. The name originated from the Greek words hippo (horse) and Kampo (monster) because it’s shaped like a seahorse. “Horse Monster” — hopefully that helps you to remember it!
So, let’s dive in and see what this little seahorse is all about.
Functions of the Hippocampus
SPATIAL MEMORY
The memory that records the details of your surroundings or environment.
The rear part of the hippocampus is responsible for processing this type of memory. For instance, cab drivers learn routes and pathways around the city using spatial memory.
FUN FACT ALERT: A study carried out on London cab drivers found that the rear part of the hippocampus increased in size as they continued to learn and navigate city streets and mazes. If ya’ll haven’t been to London, know that learning those streets would take FOREVER.
The rear part is where short-term memory is stored to be sent to long-term memory. As a result, new nerve cells continue to be generated throughout adulthood.
DECLARATIVE MEMORIES
These are facts and events. Ya know…the stuff most learned in school.
Do you know how you teach kiddos to memorize lines in a play or a song? It’s the hippocampus that does all the work.
You know what helps those memories to store better? Being in the right emotional or energy state to learn them. Check the emotional temperature of students BEFORE starting a lesson.
MEMORY CONSOLIDATION
While we sleep, the hippocampus is at work consolidating our memories. A study done in 2004 evidenced great hippocampi activity during sleep after a training or learning experience. This led to better memory of the lesson the next day.
That’s why we need that 7½ hours of sleep as an adult. Skimp on your sleep, and you skimp on the possibility of memories sinking into storage.
What could go wrong?
If the hippocampus is damaged either through an accident or conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, one can suffer memory loss or the ability to make a new memory.
One may be able to remember stuff that happened ages ago, but fail to remember more recent stuff.
There is also transient global amnesia (that is English I am speaking!) that’s a sudden loss of information that comes and goes on its own. The cause hasn’t been clearly defined yet, but it’s been associated with damage to the hippocampus.
Damage to this little seahorse can also make it difficult to find your way in a new location, but you can clearly draw a map of your childhood neighborhood. Old vs. new memories.
It’s also been linked to PTSD and schizophrenia.
Long term exposure to stress leads to more deterioration of the hippocampus. People suffering from PTSD have smaller hippocampal volume compared to others…….
….which is why EVERYTHING I teach is SO INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
For our kiddos, the longer a child is exposed to an abusive environment, the more damage their hippocampus takes. Their ability to learn is reduced significantly.
So, why aren’t schools focusing on THIS need first?
Well……. I’m working on it!!
Monday, we wrap up the series on the brain. Our last topic is the Hypothalamus/Thalamus: the control center for sensory input, internal body functions, and the connection between the nervous and endocrine systems.
Want to learn more about the hippocampus? Watch this video.
