Which part of the brain is closely associated with the formation of new long-term memories?

• A. Frontal cortex
• B. Hippocampus
• C. Amygdala
• D. Cerebellum

Answer: (B)

The hippocampus is the brain region most closely associated with forming new long-term memories. It encodes experiences into cohesive declarative memories by binding together different elements—what happened, where, and when—so they can be stored. It also plays a crucial role in consolidation, stabilizing these memories over time and helping transfer them to cortical areas for long-term storage. When the hippocampus is damaged, the ability to form new long-term memories is impaired, a condition known as anterograde amnesia, while older memories and some skills can remain.

Other regions have different roles. The frontal cortex supports working memory and complex planning rather than creating new long-term memories. The amygdala modulates the strength of memories, especially emotional ones, but isn’t the primary site for forming new long-term memories. The cerebellum handles motor control and procedural memories like skills and conditioned responses, not the formation of new explicit memories.