Final answer:
The CA1 region of the hippocampus is activated during spatial learning and recall, which is crucial for encoding and retrieving spatial memories as well as for the consolidation of new learning into long-term memory.
Step-by-step explanation:
During spatial learning and recall, a specific region of the hippocampus is activated known as the CA1 region. This area is heavily involved in the encoding and retrieval of spatial memory, such as navigating through a maze or remembering the location of objects.
This brain region helps project information to cortical areas to give memories context, associate them with other memories, and plays a critical role in memory consolidation, the process of transferring new learning into long-term memory.
The hippocampus's overall responsibility in memory formation is highlighted by the profound impacts observed in patients such as HM, who, after hippocampal damage, could not form new declarative memories but retained some procedural learning capabilities. This illustrates the nuanced roles different hippocampal regions play in various memory types, including spatial memory.