The medial temporal lobe memory system, consisting of the hippocampus and adjacent cortex (entorhinal, perirhinal, and parahippocampal cortices), is essential for forming long-term declarative memory. This system binds distributed neocortical storage sites into a coherent memory. However, its role is temporary, as neocortical memory becomes independent over time. Human amnesia cases, such as patient H.M., and animal models, like the H⁺A⁺ lesion in monkeys, demonstrate the system's critical role in memory formation. The hippocampus is vital for memory, while the amygdala is not directly involved in declarative memory but contributes to other functions like emotional processing. The entorhinal cortex, which connects to the hippocampus, is crucial for memory, and damage to perirhinal cortex, not the amygdala, is responsible for severe memory impairment in H⁺A⁺ lesions. MRI studies confirm the system's role in memory, showing reduced hippocampal size in amnesic patients. The system's function is temporary, as neocortical memory becomes independent over time. The medial temporal lobe memory system is essential for rapid acquisition of new information and for binding distributed neocortical representations into a coherent memory. It is distinct from nondeclarative memory, which is independent of the medial temporal lobe. The system's role in memory is supported by studies in both humans and animals, showing that damage to the hippocampus and adjacent cortex impairs memory, while damage to the amygdala does not. The system's function is crucial for forming long-term declarative memory, and its role is temporary as neocortical memory becomes independent over time. The system's anatomy and function are well understood, and computational modeling can help formalize these findings.The medial temporal lobe memory system, consisting of the hippocampus and adjacent cortex (entorhinal, perirhinal, and parahippocampal cortices), is essential for forming long-term declarative memory. This system binds distributed neocortical storage sites into a coherent memory. However, its role is temporary, as neocortical memory becomes independent over time. Human amnesia cases, such as patient H.M., and animal models, like the H⁺A⁺ lesion in monkeys, demonstrate the system's critical role in memory formation. The hippocampus is vital for memory, while the amygdala is not directly involved in declarative memory but contributes to other functions like emotional processing. The entorhinal cortex, which connects to the hippocampus, is crucial for memory, and damage to perirhinal cortex, not the amygdala, is responsible for severe memory impairment in H⁺A⁺ lesions. MRI studies confirm the system's role in memory, showing reduced hippocampal size in amnesic patients. The system's function is temporary, as neocortical memory becomes independent over time. The medial temporal lobe memory system is essential for rapid acquisition of new information and for binding distributed neocortical representations into a coherent memory. It is distinct from nondeclarative memory, which is independent of the medial temporal lobe. The system's role in memory is supported by studies in both humans and animals, showing that damage to the hippocampus and adjacent cortex impairs memory, while damage to the amygdala does not. The system's function is crucial for forming long-term declarative memory, and its role is temporary as neocortical memory becomes independent over time. The system's anatomy and function are well understood, and computational modeling can help formalize these findings.