Final answer:
Hippocampal damage primarily results in an inability to form new explicit memories (anterograde amnesia), while implicit memories, like procedural learning, remain possible. The condition is illustrated by the case studies of H.M. and others, highlighting the role of the hippocampus in memory consolidation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Damage to the hippocampus can lead to deficits in the ability to form new explicit memories, a condition often referred to as anterograde amnesia. The hippocampus is crucial for memory consolidation, which is the process of transferring new learning into long-term memory. Notably, the hippocampus is involved in the recognition of new information, spatial memory, and connecting memories with meaning. Notable cases, such as that of patient H.M., illustrate the severe memory impairment resulting from hippocampal damage. However, the cerebellum allows the continued formation of implicit memories, such as procedural memories and motor skills learning. Thus, while declarative (explicit) memories are significantly affected by hippocampal injury, implicit memory can remain intact. Additionally, damage to the hippocampus is often associated with various cognitive deficits observed in conditions like Alzheimer's disease, which initially presents with symptoms such as memory loss due to the early involvement of the hippocampus in the disease process.