Hippocampal Formation

Reaction to Milner paper This review paper asks the question: to what degree can molecular biology and cognitive neuroscience be united. The articles review the memory systems and findings over the years. Remarkable advances have been made in both molecular problem of memory and systems problem of memory over the years. Although we have a good amount of knowledge about the switch from short term to long term memory on a molecular level, we don't know a great deal about the downstream genes and proteins. Likewise, we are also facing some challenges in the systemic level – we still don't know much about the medial temporal lobe system.
I think this paper successfully reviewed advances over the years and raised some interesting questions and ideas based on findings from previous studies. The authors appear to make sensible arguments. For example, the articles stated that various regions of the hippocampus might …show more content…
The reason for the hippocampal formation was clearly stated and was based on empirical research. This experiment gives us more information about the role of hippocampal formation. However, the author’s conclusion could be improved. The conclusion was based on whether the monkeys were still able to discriminate between objects that they have learned prior to the hippocampal formation removal. So this experiment shows us hippocampal formation is involved in temporary memory storage of objects and that its not involved in permanent memory of objects. However, should we conclude hippocampal formation is not involved in permanent memory at all? It might still have a role in permanent memory of other information – information other than objects. Therefore, future studies should develop a different task to study hippocampal formation further. For example, a task that tests spatial memory can be developed to see whether hippocampal formation has a role in remembering spatial memory learned long