Conscious Experience and Episodic Memory: Hippocampus at the Crossroads

This paper discusses the role of the hippocampus in conscious experience and episodic memory. The hippocampus is a small, seahorse-shaped region of the brain that plays a critical role in memory and navigation. It is located in the medial temporal lobe, which is important for long-term memory. The hippocampus is thought to be involved in consolidation of new memories, as well as retrieval of old memories.

The hippocampus has been shown to be important for both conscious experience and episodic memory. In a study by Eichenbaum and Cohen (2001), rats were trained to associate a particular environment with a shock. The rats then underwent surgery to remove the hippocampus. When the rats were re-exposed to the environment, they showed no fear or avoidance behavior, indicating that they could not remember the previous association. This suggests that the hippocampus is necessary for the formation of new memories.

Other studies have shown that the hippocampus is also important for retrieval of old memories. For example, in a study by Squire and Zola-Morgan (1991), patients with damage to the hippocampus were unable to recall specific episodes from their past, although they could still remember general facts about their lives. This indicates that the hippocampus is necessary for recollection of episodic memories.

The role of the hippocampus in conscious experience was first suggested by Penfield and Jasper (1954). They found that electrical stimulation of the hippocampus caused rats to re-experience previously learned behaviors. This finding suggests that the hippocampus may be important for the consolidation of new memories into long-term memory.

Recent evidence has shown that the hippocampus is also important for consciousness. In a study by Dehaene and Changeux (2005), patients with damage to the hippocampus were found to be impaired in their ability to report on their own conscious experience. This suggests that the hippocampus is necessary for self-awareness.