Archive for June, 2009

Long Term Memory

0 June 19th, 2009

LTMMemory is one of the most important functions of human brain. Memory is our ability to keep in mind and recall different types of information, which we receive from the outside world during out lifetime. Human memory depends on specific abilities of an individual, and also on the types of information, which has to be remembered. Biochemical structure and processes, which make human memory work, are very complex. Therefore, a number of memory related issues still remain not very clear for modern scientists.

It is a known fact that there are long term memory (LTM) and short term memory (STM). Short term memory (sometimes is also called primary, acting or working memory) is a complex system, which serves for short-term storage and fast recalling of the information. In other words, STM helps to save some limited amount of information for some short time (usually, from 30-40 seconds up to a few minutes).

Long term memory helps to keep and store information for much longer time, even for all of our life. Our LTM stores the information, which we received years ago, and helps to recall it when it is required. If by some reasons our LTM can not reach necessary information, it is supposed to be lost and can be only re-obtained. Biologically, LTM is connected with some transformations in the structure of neurons in our brain.

At the first time the category of LTM was introduced by psychologist William James in his work Principles of Psychology, published in 1890. He discovered that human memory consists of two components: primary memory (STM) and secondary memory (LTM). Within the time, studying and analyzing the issues, connected with the properties of human memory, were among the most interesting and topical for biologists and medical scientists througout the world.