Meet the Hippocampus

In the movie, "A Beautiful Mind," the main character grapples with the notion that multiple personalities inhabit his body.

No doubt, he suffered from an unamalgamated, unaffiliated hippocampus.

What really is the hippocampus?

Located in the temporal lobe which extends to both sides (hemispheres) of the brain, the hippocampus is a small, curved structure resembling the aquatic creature called the seahorse. In fact, its name is the combination of two Greek terms - hippos meaning “horse” and kampos meaning “sea monster.”

The hippocampus plays a lead role in facilitating memory formation and retention, in creating spatial awareness, in maintaining the storage of our experiences, and in regulating our emotions.

The Role of the Hippocampus

1. Memory Formation

   The hippocampus is best known for helping us form new memories. When you learn a new skill, meet someone new, or recall what you had for breakfast, your hippocampus is actively at work. Without it, creating new memories would be nearly impossible.

   
   

2. Spatial Navigation

   The hippocampus also acts like your brain’s internal GPS. It helps you understand where you are in space, navigate familiar environments, and remember locations. That’s why damage to the hippocampus often leads to people getting lost more easily.

   
   

3. Emotional Regulation

   Though not its main job, the hippocampus also connects closely with the brain’s emotional center, the amygdala. This means memories stored often carry an emotional “tag,” explaining why some experiences feel so vivid and powerful.

   
   

4. Facilitation

The hippocampus receives and coordinates impulses from both hemispheres, thereby facilitating

coordination action mandated by each of the hemispheres.

With a proper functioning hippocampus, we won't forget who we are; we won't forget where we've been, what we said, whom we were with, which way is left, which way is right, etc., etc.

The problem is, though, that apparently, very few people have an optimally functioning hippocampus, that will receive, store, retrieve, send and coordinate impulses between the left and right hemispheres, or even impulses that it originates on its own.  So many people struggle daily with their memory, with navigating from one point to another, with identifying which way is left and which is right, and with managing their emotions.

When the Hippocampus is Damaged

Conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, or prolonged stress can damage the hippocampus. People with hippocampal damage often struggle with:

• Forming new memories

• Recalling recent events (though older memories may stay intact)

• Navigating spaces they once knew well

The protagonist in "A Beautiful Mind" could not distinguish between real memory and imagination, and he definitely could not control his emotions. Many people cannot recall where they were, what they said, with whom they spoke, in the last hour. People like me can forget the way home from the store - despite making that journey several times before.

Can You Protect Your Hippocampus?

Is there no hope for us? Thankfully, there is>

Research shows that the hippocampus can grow new cells even in adulthood—a process called neurogenesis. Activities that help support hippocampal health include:

• Regular exercise (especially aerobic activities like walking or swimming)

• Good sleep habits (rest is critical for memory consolidation)

• Stress management (chronic stress releases cortisol, which can shrink the hippocampus over time)

• Lifelong learning (challenging your brain with reading, puzzles, or new skills strengthens memory pathways)

The hippocampus may be small, but it’s one of the brain’s most vital players in shaping who we are. From remembering life’s milestones to finding our way home, it ensures our experiences and knowledge are stored and accessible. Taking care of your hippocampus means taking care of your memory, your ability to learn, and even your emotional resilience.

Surely, there is a great need for much more research to be done into this most vital part of our anatomy. We need to know how it functions, and why it malfunctions. This research could be of tremendous benefit to a wide cross section of the earth’s population.

Well, what are we waiting for? Let's do it!