Final answer:
Long-term Memory (LTM) is the vast and theoretically limitless storage system in human memory for knowledge, skills, and experiences. It contrasts with both Sensory Memory, which holds information for a very short time, and Short-term Memory, which is more temporary and limited.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Nature of Long-Term Memory
The relatively permanent and limitless storage house of the memory system, where knowledge, skills, and experiences are stored, is known as Long-term Memory (LTM). This type of memory contrasts with Sensory Memory, which holds sensory information for a brief period, and Short-term Memory (STM), which processes sensory memory and holds information temporarily before it is either forgotten or stored in LTM. Unlike STM, which has a limited capacity, LTM can retain a vast amount of information, theoretically without any bounds to its duration or capacity.
Long-term Memory (LTM) is essential for storing information over extended periods of time. It includes both explicit memories, which are conscious and can be verbalized, such as facts and events, and implicit memories, which are acquired through experience and practice, such as riding a bike or playing a musical instrument. The Atkinson-Shiffrin model proposes that memories pass through stages before being stored in LTM, and this storage represents the accumulation of all our knowledge and experiences.
The models proposed by Atkinson-Shiffrin and Baddeley and Hitch describe the flow of information through different stages of memory, including sensory memory, short-term memory, and ultimately, long-term memory. This comprehensive system of memory functions defines how we encode, store, and retrieve information, influencing how we learn, interact, and understand the world around us.