The seahorse of memory
Hippocampus · hippocampus
A curved structure deep in the temporal lobe that turns experiences into lasting memories.
What it does
The hippocampus is a curled ridge of brain tissue on the inner side of each temporal lobe. It binds together the details of an event into a new memory and helps you navigate by building a mental map of places. Over time, memories it helps form are stored more widely across the cortex.
Surprising fact
Its name is Greek for "seahorse", because of its shape, and London taxi drivers who memorise the city's streets have been found to have a larger rear hippocampus.
Why it matters
The hippocampus is one of the first areas affected in Alzheimer's disease, which is why recent memories fade before older ones. Regular exercise is linked to keeping it healthy.
Nearby
Read more
Sources
Drafted with AI help; awaiting a human fact-check against these sources.
Open in the 3D atlas · Suggest a correction · Not medical advice.
3D models: Z-Anatomy & BodyParts3D (CC BY-SA 4.0 / 2.1 JP). Card text CC BY 4.0.