Figure 3.

Hypothetical models of hippocampal–neocortical interactions during memory consolidation. (A) The standard model supposes that information is stored simultaneously in the hippocampus and in multiple cortical modules during learning and that, after learning, the hippocampal formation guides a process by which cortical modules are gradually bound together over time. This process is considered to be slow, occurring across weeks, months, or even longer (based on Frankland and Bontempi 2005). (B) In situations in which prior knowledge is available and, thus, cortical modules are already connected at the start of learning, a similar hippocampal–neocortical-binding process takes place. However, this process may involve the assimilation of new information into an existing “schema” rather than the slower process of creating intercortical connectivity (based on van Kesteren et al. 2012). HPC, hippocampus; mPFC, medial prefrontal cortex.