Imaginary systems? Conceptualizing hippocampal function beyond memory

Viewing the hippocampus as a structure specifically dedicated to memory is no longer viable. However, functional characterization of its structure and its involvement in learning and memory is still necessary. This review argues that the hippocampus principally processes specific spatial contexts. It highlights the hippocampal involvement in thinking about the future, rather than the past by discussing its role in episodic prospection and navigational planning. Finally, it argues that the hippocampus might also process non-spatial information by representing its components in a pseudo-Euclidean memory space.