Is the hippocampus responsible for short or long term memory?
The reason you are finding mixed answers is that scientists have yet to achieve consensus with respect to the exact functions of the hippocampus. However, it is clear that it plays a function in forming new memories, especially episodic or autobiographical memories. It is the ability to consolidate these memories that seems to be at issue – so individuals with damage to the hippocampus are often unable to make new memories – what they did yesterday, for example. The hippocampus seems to be integrated with other parts of the brain, so it is more of a “system” than a specific part of the brain with a single function. If you’re going to talk about the hippocampus in your paper, you’ll have to note that there are still many theories about how it works and what roles it plays with respect to memory.
