Temporal Lobe - Medial Temporal Lobe

Medial Temporal Lobe

The medial temporal lobe consists of structures that are vital for explicit memory. The link between the medial temporal lobe and memory was first hypothesized a century ago. Explicit or declarative memory is the conscious memory of facts and events. Explicit memory is further sub-divided into semantic memory and episodic memory. The structures contained within the medial temporal lobe include the hippocampal regions and the parahippocampal gyrus, which consists of the perirhinal, parahippocampal and entorhinal cortices. Though the hippocampus is critical for memory formation, the surrounding medial temporal cortex is also cited as playing a part in establishing memories. Research has shown that lesions in the hippocampus of monkeys results in limited impairment of function, whereas extensive lesions that include the hippocampus and the medial temporal cortex result in severe impairment.