Final answer:
Alcohol's impact on memory is typically linked to the hippocampus, which is vital for forming new declarative memories and consolidating new learning. Patient H.M.'s case, where hippocampal removal led to significant memory impairment, exemplifies this function. The cerebellum, on the other hand, handles procedural memory.
Step-by-step explanation:
Memory problems due to alcohol's impact are typically associated with the hippocampus, a structure in the temporal lobe that is crucial for learning and memory. The hippocampus is involved in memory functions such as the consolidation of new learning into long-term memory and in processing declarative memories. A renowned case that highlights the role of the hippocampus is patient H.M., who, after having his hippocampi removed, suffered from the inability to form new explicit (declarative) memories, although he could still remember incidents that occurred before the surgery.
In contrast, the cerebellum is associated with procedural memory and is involved in learning and remembering how to perform tasks. Impairment to the cerebellum would affect these types of memories, as seen in experiments with rabbits who couldn't learn a conditioned eye-blink response after their cerebellums were damaged.