6.6. Types of Long-term Memory

As you have read in Box 6.1, the short-term memory is now seen as consisting of more than one component (working memory). In the same way it is suggested that long-term memory too is not unitary because it contains a wide variety of information. In view of this, contemporary formulations envisage long-term memory as consisting of various types.

Long-term memory is not a simple, single storage place. It actually comprises various types that store different kinds of information. This means we have diverse ways of remembering things that cater to facts we know, skills we perform, and personal experiences.

Think of your brain as a huge library. Each section in this library is dedicated to a different type of memory: one for facts (like a textbook), another for skills (like a manual), and another for personal stories (like a diary). Just like you can find different types of information in different sections of a library, your memories are categorized in similar ways.

One major classification within the LTM is that of Declarative and Procedural (sometimes called nondeclarative) memories. All information pertaining to facts, names, dates, such as a rickshaw has three wheels or that India became independent on August 15, 1947 or a frog is an amphibian or you and your friend share the same name, are part of declarative memory. Procedural memory, on the other hand, refers to memories relating to procedures for accomplishing various tasks and skills such as how to ride a bicycle, how to make tea or play basketball.

Declarative memory involves information that you can consciously recall, such as facts and dates. Conversely, procedural memory is related to the knowledge of how to perform tasks. This means while you can describe what happened in an event (declarative), you might find it difficult to explain how you ride a bike (procedural), even though you can do it perfectly.

Imagine learning to ride a bicycle. You can tell someone all about the rules and techniques needed (declarative memory), but it’s much harder to explain the exact way your body balances and pedals without actually showing them (procedural memory).

Tulving has proposed yet another classification and has suggested that the declarative memory can either be Episodic or Semantic. Episodic memory contains biographical details of our lives. Memories relating to our personal life experiences constitute the episodic memory and it is for this reason that its contents are generally emotional in nature.

Episodic memory pertains to personal experiences and events you have lived through, filled with emotions and specific details. For instance, you might remember your last birthday and all the feelings involved in it. In contrast, semantic memory relates to general knowledge about the world that isn’t linked to personal experiences or emotions, like knowing that Paris is the capital of France.

Think of episodic memory as a movie you star in about your own life, capturing moments of happiness, sadness, and everything in between. In contrast, semantic memory is more like the encyclopedia that lists facts about the world, which you can refer to anytime, but it doesn’t reflect your personal feelings or experiences.

Flashbulb Memories : These are memories of events that are very arousing or surprising. Such memories are very detailed. They are like a photo taken with an advanced model camera. You can push the button, and after one minute you have a recreation of the scene.

Flashbulb memories are vivid and detailed memories of significant emotional events that feel as though they have been photographed in your mind. These memories are clear and are often accompanied by strong emotions about the event due to its surprising or shocking nature.

Think about where you were and what you felt during a major historical event, like hearing about a national tragedy. That moment may stand out in your memory just like a snapshot, clear and filled with the emotional details, because it had a significant impact on you.

Recent studies have indicated that many of the memories remain outside the conscious awareness of a person. Implicit memory is a kind of memory that a person is not aware of. It is a memory that is retrieved automatically.

Implicit memory refers to memories that you don't consciously think about or recall but can still influence your actions. For example, you may not remember the specifics of how to tie your shoes, but you can do it automatically without thinking, thanks to implicit memory.

It’s like driving a car. After practicing for a long time, you reach a point where you don't think about the mechanics of driving (like shifting gears or looking in the mirror) - you just do it without thinking, which shows how implicit memory works.

These are personal memories. They are not distributed evenly throughout our lives. Some periods in our lives produce more memories than others.

Autobiographical memory includes all the personal experiences that make you who you are. However, certain periods in your life are likely to produce more vivid memories, such as adolescence, while others, like early childhood, might be less memorable due to childhood amnesia, where you can’t remember anything from those early years.

Consider how you have thousands of memories from your teenage years packed with experiences, friendships, and milestones, compared to your early childhood when you may not recall much at all. This pattern illustrates how our memory can highlight certain life stages more than others.

Semantic memory, on the other hand, is the memory of general awareness and knowledge. All concepts, ideas and rules of logic are stored in semantic memory.

Semantic memory is a category of long-term memory that involves facts and information that we know about the world. This includes knowing the meanings of words, concepts, and general knowledge that are not tied to specific personal experiences.

Think of semantic memory as a giant filing cabinet in your brain where all the definitions, rules, and general knowledge are stored, like knowing that 'water' is a liquid and that '2+2=4.' You don't remember when you learned these facts, but they are crucial for understanding and communication.

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