The area of the brain that has a large capacity to store memories. Long-term memory varies significantly by age with increased capacity over time. This increased capacity to retain new information is thought to be the result of the abundance of material that is already stored and can be easily associated with the new information.
LTM is made up of 3 different types of memory – (1)semantic, which is memory for facts and information (“we have neurotransmitters in our brains, such as serotonin and dopamine”) (2) episodic, which is autobiographical (your 21st birthday) and (3) procedural, which is motor memory (riding a bike).
Remembering LTM memories is a reconstructive process. We are not passive recorders of information. Instead, we recreate a memory every time it is remembered. This explains why we can share an experience with someone else, but remember it quite differently. We not only remember the event, but our interpretation of it. This includes the context, as well as the feelings you experienced at the time. It is likely that these other factors are not even part of your conscious experience.