Long-term memory: Define and explain its capacity and duration.

Long-term memory is a vast and complex storage system in our brains that holds information for an extended period of time, from a few minutes to a lifetime. It is the repository of our knowledge, experiences, skills, and beliefs.

💡 Interesting fact: Did you know that some people can remember events from their early childhood, even as young as two or three years old?

Capacity of long-term memory

The capacity of long-term memory is believed to be virtually unlimited. It has the ability to store a vast amount of information throughout our lifetime. This includes various types of memories, such as facts, concepts, events, and even sensory experiences.

For example, in semantic memory, we store general knowledge about the world, like the capital cities of countries or the concept of gravity. In episodic memory, we store personal experiences, such as our first day of school or a memorable vacation.

Duration of long-term memory

The duration of long-term memory varies depending on the type of memory being stored. Some memories can last a lifetime, while others may fade away over time.

💡 Interesting fact: Did you know that the famous amnesic patient, Henry Molaison (also known as H.M.), had severe anterograde amnesia, which prevented him from forming new long-term memories?

Memories stored in long-term memory can be retained for many years, even decades. However, retrieval of these memories may be influenced by various factors, such as the strength of the memory, its emotional significance, and the frequency of recall.

For example, procedural memory, which involves motor skills and learned procedures like riding a bicycle or playing a musical instrument, can be retained for a long time with practice and repetition.

Real-life example

Let's consider the case of Sarah, who had an accident and suffered a head injury. After the accident, Sarah experienced difficulty remembering events from the past few weeks. However, as time passed, Sarah's long-term memory gradually recovered, allowing her to recall the accident and other memories from before the injury.

This example illustrates the enduring nature of long-term memory, as well as the potential for recovery in cases of memory impairment.

To summarize, long-term memory is a vast storage system that holds information for an extended period. It has an unlimited capacity and can retain memories for years or even a lifetime. The duration of memories stored in long-term memory depends on various factors, including the type of memory and factors affecting retrieval.

Previous Lesson Next Lesson

Working memory model: Understand and discuss supporting research and evaluate strengths and weaknesses.

Long-term memory: Define and explain its capacity and duration.