What role does the hippocampus play in memory?

The hippocampus plays a crucial role in consolidating short-term information into long-term memory. This process involves the transformation of new, short-lived memories into stable, long-term memories that can be retained over extended periods. The hippocampus facilitates this transition by encoding experiences and contextual information, allowing for the retrieval of past experiences. This is fundamental for learning and remembering facts and events, as well as spatial navigation.

The connection between the hippocampus and memory consolidation highlights its importance in the initial stages of memory formation, underscoring why it is often associated with declarative memory, which includes episodic and semantic memory. Thus, the correct answer identifies this essential function of the hippocampus in the broader memory system. This role contrasts with the functions of other options, which pertain to different cognitive processes or memory types.