Modern specialists differentiate several principal types of LTM. Declarative (or explicit) memory is connected with our abilities to remember some facts and events, which are available in our memory. All the processes, connected with this type of LTM, take place in cortex. Declarative memory includes some sub-types, like episodic memory (connected with time intervals), prospective memory (connected with our future prospects), or semantic memory (understanding of general concepts and meanings).
The other principal type of LTM is procedural (implicit) memory. This memory preserves our skills and abilities, which we frequently use in our daily life, like writing with a pen or playing musical instruments, etc. There is also one more category related with LTM, which is called emotional memory. This type of memory helps us to keep and recall (if necessary) some emotions, feelings, impressions and other psychological reactions, which took place before in our lives
The process of keeping and recalling information from our LTM has definite stages. The first stage includes formation of our LTM and “placing” some information into it. This information can be different and contain everything, which deserved our attention or was required to be memorized. The second stage is storing and keeping the information in our memory. This stage may not require frequent recalling of the stored data in order to “be sure” that it is still there, in our memory.
Further stages are connected with the necessity to recall the information, when we need to remember something. At the third stage the process of recognition takes place, when we try to send signals to our brains about the necessity of one or another type of information. And the last stage is recalling. This stage is connected with using of some triggers or hints, which help us to recall the information properly. For example, we can better recall some pleasant events we lived before, when we happen to be in similar environment, etc.
We form the content of our LTM when doing some actions, directed on memorizing some information we want to remember for long time. For example, when students try to learn and understand some new material at the lessons. Another powerful factor, which helps to save information to LTM, is psychological condition of an individual. For example, we remember very well the majority of things, which we ever did for the first time in our life. Also, the things, which brought us intensive positive or negative emotions, always stay in our mind for longer period of time.