pitkäkaikaismuistiin

Long-term memory, or pitkäaikainen muisti in Finnish, refers to the system responsible for the storage of information for extended periods, typically from days to a lifetime. This contrasts with short-term memory, which holds a limited amount of information for a brief duration. Long-term memory is thought to be virtually unlimited in capacity and duration.

There are two main types of long-term memory: explicit (declarative) memory and implicit (non-declarative) memory. Explicit memory involves conscious recall of facts and events. This can be further divided into episodic memory, which stores personal experiences and specific events, and semantic memory, which stores general knowledge and facts about the world. Implicit memory, on the other hand, is unconscious and influences behavior through past experiences. This includes procedural memory, which governs skills and habits like riding a bicycle, and priming, where exposure to a stimulus affects the response to a later stimulus.

The formation of long-term memories, a process known as consolidation, involves changes in the neural connections within the brain. While the precise mechanisms are still being researched, it is understood that sleep plays a crucial role in this process. Retrieval of information from long-term memory allows us to access past experiences and knowledge, enabling learning, decision-making, and our sense of self.