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The Hippocampus Links Episodic Memory and Bodily Awareness.
Lucie Bréchet1, Konstantin Toussas1, Damien Marie2
1Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
Brain and Behavior
|July 8, 2026
Summary
Hippocampal volume is linked to both episodic memory and bodily awareness. Reductions in the hippocampus may indicate early cognitive decline, suggesting bodily awareness could be an Alzheimer's disease marker.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Episodic autobiographical memory relies on first-person encoding.
- The hippocampus is a known memory substrate.
- The hippocampus's role in the embodied self is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between hippocampal volume, episodic memory, and bodily awareness.
- To determine if hippocampal volume predicts both memory and embodiment.
Main Methods:
- Structural T1-weighted MRI was used.
- Behavioral assessments included Logical Memory delayed recall and the ARSQ 2.0 Somatic Awareness subscale.
- Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients and healthy controls were studied.
Main Results:
- Hippocampal volume predicted episodic memory and bodily awareness in MCI patients.
- Hippocampal volume explained significant variance, unlike control regions, showing regional specificity.
- MCI patients exhibited reduced hippocampal volume compared to younger and older adults.
Conclusions:
- Hippocampal atrophy correlates with reduced memory and embodiment.
- The hippocampus links memory and bodily selfhood.
- Bodily awareness may serve as an early marker for Alzheimer's disease progression.
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