PsychologyJuly 17, 2026

hippocampus

HIP-uh-kam-pus

Definition

A complex, seahorse-shaped structure in the brain's temporal lobe that is essential for the formation and processing of long-term memories and spatial navigation.

Etymology

The word originates from the Greek 'hippos' meaning horse and 'kampos' meaning sea monster, referring to the structure's visual resemblance to a seahorse.

In the news

The word is used to differentiate a specific brain region from the retrosplenial cortex, highlighting that the observed memory-related structural changes were unique to the latter.

Study reveals how brain remodeling during adolescence shapes memory

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