The medial temporal lobe
Abstract
▪ Abstract The medial temporal lobe includes a system of anatomically related structures that are essential for declarative memory (conscious memory for facts and events). The system consists of the hippocampal region (CA fields, dentate gyrus, and subicular complex) and the adjacent perirhinal, entorhinal, and parahippocampal cortices. Here, we review findings from humans, monkeys, and rodents that illuminate the function of these structures. Our analysis draws on studies of human memory impairment and animal models of memory impairment, as well as neurophysiological and neuroimaging data, to show that this system (a) is principally concerned with memory, (b) operates with neocortex to establish and maintain long-term memory, and (c) ultimately, through a process of consolidation, becomes independent of long-term memory, though questions remain about the role of perirhinal and parahippocampal cortices in this process and about spatial memory in rodents. Data from neurophysiology, neuroimaging, and neuroanatomy point to a division of labor within the medial temporal lobe. However, the available data do not support simple dichotomies between the functions of the hippocampus and the adjacent medial temporal cortex, such as associative versus nonassociative memory, episodic versus semantic memory, and recollection versus familiarity.
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In mammals, allocentric navigation involves an extended cortico-hippocampal network that conveys highly processed visual and multisensory information to hippocampal circuits for transformation into 'world-centered' relational spatial representations.
“In mammals, allocentric navigation is thought to involve the operation of an extended cortico-hippocampal network that conveys highly processed visual and multisensory information to the hippocampal circuits for further processing and transformation into “world-centered” relational spatial representations [74,76,79,188,189,190,191,192].”
From Spatial Cognition in Teleost Fish: Strategies and Mechanisms (2021) · cites this paper as [192]
The hippocampus plays a central role in encoding and storage of spatial and episodic memory.
“the hippocampus plays a central role in the encoding and storage of certain types of memory, including spatial and episodic memory [1], [2].”
From Arf4 Determines Dentate Gyrus-Mediated Pattern Separation by Regulating Dendritic Spine Development (2012) · cites this paper as [2]
Medial temporal lobe structures including entorhinal, perirhinal, and parahippocampal cortex constitute a memory system for storage and recall of facts and events.
“Structures in the medial temporal lobe, including areas connected to the hippocampus (entorhinal, perirhinal, parahippocampal cortex), have been proposed to constitute a “medial temporal lobe memory system” with the primary functions of these areas related to the storage and recall of facts and events (Squire et al., 2004).”
From High pregnancy anxiety during mid-gestation is associated with decreased gray matter density in 6-9-year-old children. (2010) · cites this paper as Squire et al., 2004
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References 184 · Cited by 2,680
- Authors
- Squire, L. R., Stark, C. E. L., & Clark, R. E.
- Affiliations
- University of California San Diego (US)
- Johns Hopkins University (US)
- Venue
- Annual Review of Neuroscience
- Publisher
- Annual Reviews
- Published
- 2004-07-21
- Volume
- 27
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 279-306
- ISSN
- 0147-006X (ISSN-L)
- 1545-4126
- OpenAlex
- W2129789527
- Cited by
- 2,680
- References
- 184
- Citations by year
- 2026: 51 · 2025: 79 · 2024: 108 · 2023: 81 · 2022: 83 · 2021: 104 · 2020: 99 · 2019: 99 · 2018: 107 · 2017: 113 · 2016: 116 · 2015: 156 · 2014: 131 · 2013: 159 · 2012: 156
- FWCI
- 9.77
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Annual Review of Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Science Foundation
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- National Institute of Mental Health
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Keywords
- medial temporal lobe, declarative memory, hippocampus, dentate gyrus, subiculum, perirhinal cortex, entorhinal cortex, parahippocampal cortex, memory consolidation, long-term memory, spatial memory, episodic memory, semantic memory, memory impairment, functional specialization
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Hippocampus, Humans, Memory, Memory Disorders, Models, Neurological, Neural Pathways, Temporal Lobe, Entorhinal Cortex, Parahippocampal Gyrus, Models, Animal
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