This 2013 article summarized 158 studies related to the roles of regions in the limbic system and memory:

“Episodic memory is the capacity to recall specific experiences and to re-experience individual events.

The findings of both animal and human studies provide compelling evidence that stress-induced activation of the amygdala and its interactions with other brain regions involved in processing memory play a critical role in ensuring that emotionally significant experiences are well-remembered.”

http://www.pnas.org/content/110/Supplement_2/10402.full “Making lasting memories: Remembering the significant”