7.1 Types of Long-term Memory

Long-term memory is a complex system with different types and functions. Explicit memory involves conscious recollection, while implicit memory operates unconsciously. These systems work together to store and retrieve various kinds of information.

Our brains use episodic, semantic, and procedural memory to remember personal experiences, facts, and skills. Different brain structures, like the hippocampus and amygdala, play crucial roles in forming and consolidating memories for long-term storage and retrieval.

Types of Long-term Memory

Explicit vs implicit memory systems

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• Explicit memory (declarative memory) involves conscious recollection requires deliberate effort to recall (remembering a friend's birthday)
• Implicit memory (non-declarative memory) involves unconscious recollection occurs automatically without conscious effort (riding a bike)
• Key differences
  • Awareness: Explicit operates consciously implicit functions unconsciously
  • Retrieval process: Explicit demands effort implicit happens automatically
  • Verbalization: Explicit easily verbalized implicit difficult to express in words

Types of long-term memory

• Episodic memory stores personal experiences and events includes temporal and spatial context allows mental time travel to relive past experiences (first day of school)
• Semantic memory stores general knowledge and facts organized conceptually enables understanding of concepts and language (knowing Paris is the capital of France)
• Procedural memory stores skills habits and procedures acquired through repetition and practice allows automatic performance of learned tasks (tying shoelaces)

Everyday uses of long-term memory

• Episodic memory
  • Remembering your last birthday party
  • Recalling what you had for breakfast this morning
  • Remembering where you parked your car
• Semantic memory
  • Understanding the meaning of words in a conversation
  • Recalling historical facts for a test
  • Knowing the chemical symbol for gold (Au)
• Procedural memory
  • Riding a bicycle
  • Typing on a keyboard without looking
  • Playing a musical instrument

Brain structures for memory formation

• Hippocampus forms new episodic memories consolidates short-term memories into long-term storage involved in spatial navigation (remembering directions)
• Amygdala processes emotional aspects of memories enhances memory consolidation for emotionally charged events (remembering a first kiss)
• Prefrontal cortex encodes and retrieves memories organizes and integrates information (planning and decision-making)
• Cerebellum forms procedural memories involved in motor skill learning and coordination (learning to juggle)
• Neocortex stores long-term semantic memories involved in higher-order cognitive processes (language comprehension)
• Memory consolidation process
  1. Initial encoding in hippocampus
  2. Gradual transfer to neocortex for long-term storage
  3. Systems consolidation theory explains this process over time