Långminnesprocesser

Långminnesprocesser refers to the cognitive mechanisms involved in storing and retrieving information over extended periods, typically from hours to a lifetime. These processes are fundamental to learning, identity, and daily functioning. They are generally divided into two main types: declarative and non-declarative memory.

Declarative memory, also known as explicit memory, involves conscious recall of facts and events. This is further subdivided into episodic memory, which relates to personal experiences and specific events, and semantic memory, which encompasses general knowledge and facts about the world. The hippocampus plays a crucial role in the formation of new declarative memories.

Non-declarative memory, or implicit memory, is unconscious and influences behavior and performance without conscious awareness. This includes procedural memory, which is the memory for skills and habits (e.g., riding a bike), priming, where exposure to a stimulus influences a response to a later stimulus, and classical conditioning. Different brain structures, such as the basal ganglia and cerebellum, are involved in these types of memory.

The consolidation process is vital for long-term memory. It involves the stabilization of memory traces after initial acquisition, transforming fragile short-term memories into more enduring long-term ones. Sleep is known to play a significant role in memory consolidation. Retrieval is the process of accessing stored information from long-term memory. This can be influenced by various factors, including cues, context, and emotional states. Disruptions to any of these processes can lead to memory impairments.