The hippocampus and memory: insights from spatial processing
Open accessAbstract
The hippocampus appears to be crucial for long-term episodic memory, yet its precise role remains elusive. Electrophysiological studies in rodents offer a useful starting point for developing models of hippocampal processing in the spatial domain. Here we review one such model that points to an essential role for the hippocampus in the construction of mental images. We explain how this neural-level mechanistic account addresses some of the current controversies in the field, such as the role of the hippocampus in imagery and short-term memory, and discuss its broader implications for the neural bases of episodic memory.
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Tolerance to partial losses of spatial information has been proposed to be a key characteristic of mammalian hippocampus-dependent map-like spatial memory.
“The tolerance to partial losses of spatial information has been proposed to be a key characteristic of the mammalian hippocampus-dependent map-like spatial memory”
From Spatial Cognition in Teleost Fish: Strategies and Mechanisms (2021) · cites this paper as [75]
The hippocampus of tetrapods is essential in tasks requiring the formation of a memory of the spatial relationships of multiple elements and cues of the environment and those demanding the flexible expression of previously acquired spatial knowledge.
“The hippocampus of tetrapods seems to be essential in tasks requiring the formation of a memory of the spatial relationships of multiple elements and cues of the environment and those demanding the flexible expression of previously acquired spatial knowledge [72,73,75,76].”
From Spatial Cognition in Teleost Fish: Strategies and Mechanisms (2021) · cites this paper as [75]
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- Authors
- Bird, C. M., & Burgess, N.
- Affiliations
- University College London (GB)
- Venue
- Nature Reviews Neuroscience
- Published
- 2008-03
- Volume
- 9
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 182-194
- ISSN
- 1471-003X (ISSN-L)
- 1471-0048
- OpenAlex
- W2128752949
- Cited by
- 1,313
- References
- 20
- Citations by year
- 2026: 59 · 2025: 121 · 2024: 117 · 2023: 106 · 2022: 102 · 2021: 108 · 2020: 61 · 2019: 70 · 2018: 55 · 2017: 52 · 2016: 50 · 2015: 57 · 2014: 66 · 2013: 54 · 2012: 61
- FWCI
- 4.41
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- figshare.com
- Locations
- Nature reviews. Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Automotive Engineering › Spatial Cognition and Navigation
- Keywords
- hippocampus, episodic memory, spatial processing, mental imagery, hippocampal-neocortical interaction, short-term memory, long-term memory
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Hippocampus, Humans, Memory, Models, Neurological, Space Perception, Spatial Behavior
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