Which brain structure is crucial for forming new memories related to facts and events?

The hippocampus plays a vital role in the formation of new memories, particularly those related to facts (semantic memories) and personal experiences (episodic memories). This structure is located in the medial temporal lobe of the brain and is essential for converting short-term memories into long-term memories, which allows individuals to recall these memories later.

Research has shown that the hippocampus is involved in the process of consolidating information, whereby it transforms the information collected from various sensory inputs into stable, accessible memories. Damage to the hippocampus can lead to significant memory impairments, such as the inability to form new long-term memories, which is a condition known as anterograde amnesia.

The other structures mentioned, although important in various cognitive functions, do not have the same direct impact on the formation of new factual and experiential memories. The amygdala is primarily involved in the processing of emotions, especially fear, the cerebellum is crucial for motor coordination and balance, and the prefrontal cortex is more related to higher-order executive functions like decision-making and planning, rather than memory formation per se.