MCAT Behavioral Sciences Question 245: Answer and Explanation
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Question: 245
2. What part of the brain is most associated with the formation of long-term memories?
- A. Pre-frontal cortex
- B. Amygdala
- C. Hippocampus
- D. Thalamus
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
The hippocampus is the part of the brain most commonly associated with long-term memory, as it plays a major part in constructing, integrating, and then storing information from short-term into long-term memory (choice C is correct). The pre-frontal cortex stores information on an extremely temporary basis (anywhere from several seconds to several minutes), and thus is more commonly associated with short-term memory than with long-term memory (choice A is wrong). The amygdala has been implicated in encoding and storing memories that include intense emotional themes, but it works in concert with the hippocampus and other limbic area brain systems, and thus is not alone responsible for long-term memory (choice B is wrong). The thalamus is responsible for sensory and motor action, and is not typically associated with memory (choice D is wrong).