​Remembering the Hippocampus Find Out What the Hippocampus and Seahorses Have in Common

Dear Readers,
As you well know, the English language is full of words that have multiple meanings. Words such as degree, run or fly mean different things according to the contexts in which you find them.


Another example of a word with varied meanings is hippocampus. In one context it is something that intrigues educators, neuroscientists, and psychologists because it names the structure within the brain that carries key responsibility for forming and retaining memories. Humans want to retain a healthy and robust hippocampus in order to avoid dementia and other dilemmas of memory loss. Protecting the hippocampus is a worthy goal for all of us and our families in order to learn and remember, preserve mental health, and provide a general sense of well-being.


Please take a moment to click on the link here to find out more about the hippocampus in brain.  Hippocampus: Function, size, and problems


There is, however, another hippocampus. The brain’s memory structure actually adopted its name from the scientific name for an amazing and unique fish—the seahorse! Early brain studies revealed that the tiny structure in the temporal lobe was shaped like an S and thought to resemble a seahorse. The four-syllable word descends from two Ancient Greek words that mean horse (hippos) and sea creature/monster (kampos).

We do wonder if the early neuroscientists saw other similarities or influences that made the name appropriate, but research does not reveal any traits aside from the special shape. Nevertheless, we took on the task to draw some conclusions from our own powers of critical thinking, using analysis and synthesis (Thank you, Bloom’s Taxonomy!).


Here is one article to provide you with some facts about the fascinating hippocampus of the ocean. 7 Wild Facts You May Not Know About Seahorses - Ocean Conservancy


Now that you have gotten acquainted, please see if you agree that the following traits of the ocean’s hippocampus can remind you of how to treat your brain’s hippocampus. Perhaps you can have some fun thinking about additional connections that don’t appear in the list below.

• Living a healthy existence can take place all over the world.
• Relationships are committed and couples are monogamous.
• Couples are romantic; males and females dance daily to greet and reassure each other.
• Males take on significant roles in bringing children into the world.
• Survival is the longest and most robust in protected environments; harmful human beings are the sources of greatest damage.
• The way to travel and survive is to join fins and link to one another.

Yes, memory for you and your loved ones will do best in an environment where harmful stresses are minimal. So do remember the delightful hippocampus of the ocean. Its behaviors can jog your memory as to how to protect your precious memory.


For those of you who want more technical information about the brain’s hippocampus click on the link here. hippocampus | Definition, Location, Function, & Facts | Britannica


Submitted by Greta Nagel, President and CEO