Which brain structure is crucial for the formation of new long-term memories?

The hippocampus is the brain structure primarily involved in the formation of new long-term memories. It plays a critical role in the consolidation of information from short-term memory to long-term memory. This structure is especially important for remembering factual information and experiences, also known as explicit memories. The hippocampus helps individuals navigate their environment and recall past events, further emphasizing its essential function in memory processing.

Research has shown that damage to the hippocampus can lead to significant impairments in the ability to form new memories, such as in cases of anterograde amnesia, where individuals struggle to create new long-term memories after the onset of their condition. Additionally, the hippocampus is also involved in spatial memory and navigation.

Other brain structures listed, while involved in memory processes or related functions, do not specifically handle the formation of new long-term memories in the same way. For instance, the cerebellum is more associated with motor control and procedural memory rather than explicit memory. The amygdala plays a key role in emotional memory, particularly those memories linked to fear. The thalamus is more of a relay station for sensory information and does not directly contribute to the formation of long-term memories.