What brain structure is primarily involved in forming new memories?

The hippocampus is a crucial brain structure involved in the formation of new memories, particularly declarative memories, which are memories of facts and events. It plays a fundamental role in consolidating information from short-term memory to long-term memory, allowing individuals to retain and recall information over time. The hippocampus is also involved in spatial navigation and learning, which further emphasizes its importance in memory processes.

In contrast, the thalamus acts primarily as a relay station for sensory information and is not directly responsible for memory formation. The amygdala is involved in emotional processing and memory related to emotions, rather than the formation of new memories themselves. The cerebellum, while important for motor control and coordination, does not play a significant role in memory formation. Thus, the hippocampus stands out as the key structure associated with the encoding and retrieval of new memories.