Final answer:
Declarative memory is a type of long-term memory for facts and events that can be verbally communicated, such as semantic and episodic memories. It involves effortful processing and elaborative rehearsal for encoding information into the memory system.
Step-by-step explanation:
The memory system which involves the recording of facts, experiences, and scenarios that one can verbally express is known as declarative memory. This type of memory is a subset of long-term memory and is divided into two categories: semantic memory, which includes knowledge of words, concepts, and facts, and episodic memory, which is the ability to recall personal experiences. For instance, remembering your last birthday celebration would be an episodic memory, whereas knowing the capital of a country is stored as semantic memory.
The process of transferring information into long-term storage involves effortful processing and elaborative rehearsal. During effortful processing, we pay attention and put in effort to encode the information, and through elaborative rehearsal, we think deeply about the new information and connect it to what we already know.
However, not all long-term memories are easily retrievable and may require cues or prompts for recall. Despite being susceptible to disorders or trauma, certain parts of the brain can adapt to compensate for lost memory capabilities via the equipotentiality hypothesis. Overall, our ability to encode, store, and retrieve this type of declarative information plays a crucial role in learning and humanities.