Which brain structure primarily helps in the formation of new memories?

The hippocampus is a critical structure in the brain involved primarily in the formation of new memories, especially declarative memories, which encompass facts and events. This region is located within the medial temporal lobe and is integral to the process of encoding and consolidating new information into long-term memory.

Research has shown that damage to the hippocampus can lead to anterograde amnesia, where an individual is unable to create new memories while still retaining memories formed before the damage occurred. This highlights the hippocampus's essential role in translational memory processing—transforming short-term experiences into lasting memories.

The other structures listed have distinct functions. The fusiform gyrus is associated primarily with facial recognition and processing visual stimuli. The orbitofrontal cortex plays a role in decision-making and emotional regulation, while the parahippocampal gyrus is involved in memory encoding and retrieval but serves as a supporting structure rather than the primary site for new memory formation. Thus, the hippocampus stands out as the keystone for new memory creation and consolidation processes in the brain.