The hippocampus is a small but complex brain structure that plays an important role in learning, memory formation, and spatial navigation. It is an ancient structure in the brain that differs both anatomically and physiologically from the cerebral cortex. The hippocampus is part of the limbic system, a group of structures involved in the regulation of emotions and other behaviors needed for survival, such as feeding, fighting, and sexual behavior.

Here are some of the key functions of the hippocampus:

• Learning and Memory: The hippocampus is vital for learning, memory, and spatial navigation. It is responsible for converting short-term memory into long-term memory, shifting those memories into other parts of the brain for long-term potentiation and storage, and assisting in the retrieval of those memories when needed.

• Emotional Regulation: The hippocampus plays a role in emotional processing, including anxiety and avoidance behaviors. It is involved in the regulation of emotions and stress.

• Spatial Navigation: The hippocampus is involved in helping us navigate from place to place and remember spatial directions. We use memory to form a map of our surroundings, and without this map, we would be constantly lost — even in familiar areas.

• Other Roles: The hippocampus is a part of the ventral striatal loop, hence can affect motor behavior. It also has reciprocal connections with the amygdala, which regulates emotional behavior, and can influence each other. Since the hippocampus has projections to the hypothalamus, it can affect the release of adrenocorticotropic hormones.

In summary, the hippocampus controls learning, memory formation, spatial navigation, emotional regulation, and other behaviors needed for survival.