Editing Semantic memory (section)

== Location of semantic memory in the brain ==
The [[cognitive neuroscience]] of semantic memory is a controversial issue with two dominant views.

Many researchers and clinicians believe that semantic memory is stored by the same [[brain]] systems involved in [[episodic memory]], that is, the medial [[temporal lobes]], including the [[hippocampus|hippocampal formation]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ofen |first1=Noa |title=The development of neural correlates for memory formation |journal=Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews |date=August 2012 |volume=36 |issue=7 |pages=1708–1717 |doi=10.1016/j.neubiorev.2012.02.016|pmid=22414608 |pmc=3437984 }}</ref> In this system, the hippocampal formation "encodes" memories, or makes it possible for memories to form at all, and the neocortex stores memories after the initial encoding process is completed. Recently,{{When|date=July 2023}} new evidence has been presented in support of a more precise interpretation of this hypothesis. The hippocampal formation includes, among other structures: the hippocampus itself, the [[entorhinal cortex]], and the [[perirhinal cortex]]. These latter two make up the parahippocampal cortices. Amnesiacs with damage to the hippocampus but some spared parahippocampal cortex were able to demonstrate some degree of intact semantic memory despite a total loss of episodic memory, which strongly suggests that information encoding leading to semantic memory does not have its physiological basis in the hippocampus.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Vargha-Khadem | display-authors = etal   | year = 1997 | title = Differential Effects of Early Hippocampal Pathology on Episodic and Semantic Memory | journal = Science | volume = 277 | issue = 5324| pages = 376–380 | doi=10.1126/science.277.5324.376 | pmid=9219696| s2cid = 3005993 }}</ref>

Other researchers believe the [[hippocampus]] is only involved in [[episodic memory]] and spatial [[cognition]], which raises the question of where semantic memory may be located. Some believe semantic memory lives in the [[temporal cortex]], while others believe that it is widely distributed across all brain areas.{{Cn|date=July 2023}}