Which brain structure is primarily involved in forming new memories?

The hippocampus is the brain structure primarily involved in forming new memories due to its critical role in the consolidation of information from short-term memory to long-term memory. This process is essential for learning new information and experiences, allowing them to be stored and retrieved later. The hippocampus helps encode and organize memories, facilitating the process by which experiences influence future behavior and cognition.

This structure also plays a vital role in spatial memory and navigation, enabling individuals to remember locations and how to get to them. Damage to the hippocampus can lead to significant difficulties in forming new explicit memories, as seen in conditions such as anterograde amnesia.

While the amygdala is primarily involved in processing emotions and forming emotional memories, the cerebellum focuses on motor control and coordination rather than memory formation. The hypothalamus regulates several homeostatic processes but is not directly involved in memory formation. Therefore, the hippocampus is the key component in the formation of new memories, making it the correct choice in this context.