Final answer:
Having a schema allows for more efficient use of the hippocampus, which is involved in memory encoding and consolidation. It organizes information to facilitate immediate assumptions and efficient data processing. However, it does not directly relate to the increased or decreased use of the hippocampus.
Step-by-step explanation:
If you have a schema, you will utilize your hippocampus more effectively as opposed to when you don't have a schema. A schema is a mental framework that organizes and interprets information in the brain, allowing you to make immediate assumptions and process incoming data more efficiently. The hippocampus is mainly involved in the encoding of new memories and plays an integral role in both declarative and episodic memory, as well as spatial memory. It's also responsible for memory consolidation, which is the process of transferring new learning into long-term memory. However, the use of the hippocampus can vary depending on the type of memory being processed. For example, the cerebellum, not the hippocampus, processes implicit memories (procedural memory, motor learning, and classical conditioning).
In cases where the hippocampus is damaged, as seen with patient H. M., there is an inability to process new declarative memories and form new semantic knowledge. Nonetheless, it's unclear if the mere presence of a schema would alter the degree to which you use your hippocampus, as it primarily aids in memory efficiency rather than the frequency of hippocampal activation.