What is the difference between the Hippocampus and the Amygdala in the brain?

Answer 1

Hello, Seena!

The hippocampus and the amygdala are in very close proximity to each other (they sit next to each other in the skull cavity).

The amygdala is essentially your primal brain, which tells you to enter fight, flight, or freeze mode to handle crisis.

The hippocampus, on the other hand, helps the mind to create connections that move short-term memory to long-term. The hippocampus also aids in navigation.

Because the amygdala is engaged in emotional activation and the hippocampus with memory, when an impactful emotional event occurs, both the amygdala and hippocampus may be activated at the same time, therefore working in tandem to create an emotional memory.

Does this help?

~Alexandra Goldston (Miss G.)