Explanations of Long Term Memory

Explanations of Long Term Memory

Semantic Memory

• Semantic Memory refers to our long-term memory of facts, meanings, concepts and knowledge about the world.
• This memory doesn’t associate with personal experiences. It’s more about the general knowledge side of our long-term memory.
• Examples of semantic memory include names of colours, recognition of various sounds or the familiarity of faces.

Episodic Memory

• Episodic memory refers to our memory of autobiographical events (times, places, associated emotions, and other contextual specifics) that can be explicitly stated.
• It’s a category of long-term memory to recall specific events or experiences.
• This type of memory requires ‘mental time travel’ - a sense that the past is being relived.

Procedural Memory

• Procedural Memory is the memory of skills and how to do things, particularly the use of objects or movements of the body.
• It is mainly known as the memory of motor skills.
• It does not rely on the hippocampus, unlike the other two types of long-term memory, so it is unaffected by Alzheimer’s and similar conditions which affect mainly the hippocampus.