The hippocampus is located in the medial temporal lobe beneath the cortex and plays important roles in converting short-term to long-term memory, emotions, navigation, and spatial orientation. Studies have shown that severe stress in children can decrease hippocampal size by increasing stress hormones like cortisol. Long-term ecstasy use was also found to damage the hippocampus, with users' hippocampi being 10.5% smaller than average for alcoholics. Higher physical fitness in children has been correlated with larger hippocampal size likely due to increased growth of neurons and cell survival. Damage to the hippocampus can cause amnesia and difficulties learning and remembering, and may contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease.

1. By: Patrick Kinas

2. Location

 Medial Temporal Lobe
 Beneath the Cortex
 Two identical on each Hemisphere
 Adjacent to the Amygdala

3. Functions

 Converting short-term memory to long-term memory
 Emotions –Limbic System-
 Navigation
 Spatial Orientation
 Learning

4. Studies


5. Severe stress hurts children’s
brains, changes Hippocampus,
study shows

 High levels of stress hormones, Cortisol, causes
decrease in Hippocampal size.
 Some results have been seen in animal studies
 Traumatic stress, not work.

6. Long term Ecstasy use, leads to

 Damage may not be limited to Hippocampus
 The men were 2 months clean, after 6.5 years of use
 They consumed approximately 290 pills
 Hippocampus was 10.5% smaller than the average
alcoholic
 Difficulties learning, memorizing and remembering
things
Hippocampal damage

7. Affiliation between physical
fitness and Hippocampus

 Magnetic Resonance Imaging, measures the size of
Hippocampus
 Increasing growth of new neurons and cell survivals
 More fit children  Larger Hippocampus

8. Damaged Hippocampus

 Amnesia, or Loss of memory
 Can lead to Alzheimer
 Can effect ability to learn new cognitive skills
 One side damaged, brain can maintain normal
functioning