What type of memory is most associated with the hippocampus?

The hippocampus is most closely associated with episodic memory, which involves the recollection of specific events, experiences, and contexts from one's personal past. This type of memory allows individuals to recall particular episodes in their lives, including the time and place of these events, as well as the emotions they experienced during those moments. The role of the hippocampus in the formation of episodic memories is crucial, as it helps to consolidate these experiences from short-term to long-term memory, enabling us to retrieve them later.

Episodic memory is distinct from other types of memory, such as short-term memory, which involves information held temporarily, procedural memory, which pertains to skills and tasks that are performed automatically after practice, and working memory, which involves the manipulation and temporary storage of information. Understanding the specific role of the hippocampus in supporting episodic memory can highlight its importance in learning, navigation, and understanding personal experiences in a temporal context.