What does the limbic memory circuit actually do?

We applaud Aggleton & Brown's affirmation of limbic diencephalic-hippocampa l interaction as a key memory substrate. However, we do not agree with a th esis of diencephalic-hippocampal strict dedication to episodic memory. Inst ead, this circuitry supports the production of context-specific patterns of activation that subserve retrieval for a broad class of memory phenomena, including goal-directed instrumental behavior of animals and episodic memor y of humans.