Long term memory (LTM)

Does LTM have unlimited capacity?

yes, it will not run out of space

Duration of long-term memories

permanent

What are active during LTM?

The cortex and hippocampus

Cortex

all the lobes

Elaborate rehearsal

transferring information from STM to LTM by making it meaningful

Where does memory consolidation happen?

STM

What happens to the brain when we learn something new?

The brain changes in structure & functioning when we learn something new

• create more synapses (The change refers to neuroplasticity)

Long-term potentiation

strengthening synaptic sensitivity through persistent stimulation

• listening to something or reviewing something over and over can create LTM

Non-declarative memory

known as implicit memory

• memory of skills, habits, and learned responses

→ these are procedural memories (think cerebellum and muscle memory)

• Amygdala and cerebellum function most here

• Not easily retrieved into conscience awareness

Declarative memory

explicit memory

Types of declarative memory

Semantic & Episodic

Semantic memory

general knowledge

• Ex: meaning of words or concepts, facts

Episodic memory

personal knowledge

→ based on our own experiences

Retrieval

getting info out of LTM depends on how you absorbed the information in the first place

Retrieval cues

a stimulus for remembering

• the more cues you add to a piece of info, the easier it is to remember (retrieve memory)

Encoding specificity

improved memory if retrieval conditions are similar to encoding conditions

Context-dependent memory

if the surroundings are similar to when the memory was made, it is easier to recall

State-dependent memory

the physiological or psychological state is similar to when the memory was formed