hippocampus: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowAcademic / Scientific / Technical
Quick answer
What does “hippocampus” mean?
A major component of the brain, located in the medial temporal lobe, essential for forming new memories and for spatial navigation.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A major component of the brain, located in the medial temporal lobe, essential for forming new memories and for spatial navigation.
In mythology, a sea-horse with two front legs and a fish-like tail; a genus of small marine fish commonly known as seahorses.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage exist between British and American English for this term.
Connotations
Primarily scientific and academic connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialist in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “hippocampus” in a Sentence
The hippocampus [verb of function: processes, encodes, stores] memories.Damage to the hippocampus [verb of effect: impairs, disrupts] recall.Researchers [verb of study: examined, scanned, lesioned] the hippocampus.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hippocampus” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No verb form exists]
American English
- [No verb form exists]
adverb
British English
- [No adverb form exists]
American English
- [No adverb form exists]
adjective
British English
- hippocampal: The hippocampal neurons were clearly visible on the scan.
American English
- hippocampal: She studied hippocampal atrophy in aging populations.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
[Rarely used]
Academic
Primary context. E.g., 'The study focused on hippocampal plasticity in rodent models.'
Everyday
[Very rare, except in simplified popular science contexts]
Technical
Essential in neuroscience, neurology, psychology, and anatomy.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hippocampus”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hippocampus”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hippocampus”
- Mispronunciation: stressing the first syllable ('HIP-oh-cam-pus') is incorrect.
- Misspelling: 'hipocampus' (single 'p'), 'hippocampous'.
- Using it as a common noun outside scientific discourse.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Its primary functions are the formation of new declarative memories and spatial navigation.
No, it is a specialized scientific term rarely used outside academic or medical contexts.
The name comes from Greek ('hippos' = horse, 'kampos' = sea monster) because its shape resembles a seahorse.
Yes, the human brain has two hippocampi, one in each hemisphere of the brain.
A major component of the brain, located in the medial temporal lobe, essential for forming new memories and for spatial navigation.
Hippocampus is usually academic / scientific / technical in register.
Hippocampus: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhɪp.əʊˈkæm.pəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhɪp.oʊˈkæm.pəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms exist for this term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a seahorse (hippocampus) swimming in your brain, helping you 'catch' and store memories like treasures.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE BRAIN IS A MAP / LIBRARY; THE HIPPOCAMPUS IS THE CARTOGRAPHER / LIBRARIAN.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'hippocampus' most frequently used?