long-term memory

noun

Definition of long-term memory

: memory that involves the storage and recall of information over a long period of time (such as days, weeks, or years) In animal experiments and autopsies of human brains, researchers have found that the hippocampal formation—an inner-brain region consisting of the hippocampus and several other related structures—is critical for the formation of long-term memory. — Science News —abbreviation LTM — compare short-term memory, working memory

Examples of long-term memory in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Although incipiently present in some extinct life forms and other phyla, the limbic brain indicated a more complex functionality in the newer species related to deeper social bonds, long-term memory, and more advanced neural functions. — Luis E. Romero, Forbes, "Jurassic Leadership And The Dinosaur Within Us," 25 Feb. 2021 Researchers expected dolphins to have long-term memory, but perhaps not that long-term. — Karen Ravn, Scientific American, "Dolphins Remember One Another for Decades," 7 Aug. 2013 Certain bugs might also directly interfere with immune cells’ long-term memory. — Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, "We’re Thinking About Reinfection All Wrong," 24 Feb. 2021 In case this crazy year has triggered some long-term memory loss, this collection of players represent some of the best at their positions in both the historical and present sense. — Luke Johnson, NOLA.com, "The Saints begin another playoff push against the Bears. Here are 5 things you should know," 9 Jan. 2021 My short-term memory is much better than my long-term memory. — Dan Snierson, EW.com, "Melissa Joan Hart on being a Lifetime Christmas queen — and how to force holiday cheer out of an actor," 27 Nov. 2020 Her understanding of language and behavioral concepts provided insight into language acquisition, long-term memory and the cognitive abilities of animals. — Courtney Sexton, Smithsonian Magazine, "The Most Famous Dogs of Science," 18 Nov. 2020 This type of long-term memory involves recalling a previous experience along with the time and place of the event and associated emotions. — Ellen Ruppel Shell, Scientific American, "The New Alzheimer’s–Air Pollution Link," 12 May 2020 More important, the various stages of sleep, critical for storing long-term memories, can be identified by brain waves oscillating at different frequencies. — R. Douglas Fields, Scientific American, "The Brain Learns in Unexpected Ways," 12 Mar. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'long-term memory.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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12 Mar 2021

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“Long-term memory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/long-term%20memory. Accessed 14 Apr. 2021.

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More Definitions for long-term memory

long-term memory

noun

Medical Definition of long-term memory

: memory that involves the storage and recall of information over a long period of time (as days, weeks, or years) A short-term memory's conversion to a long-term memory requires changes within the brain that protect the memory from interference from competing stimuli or disruption from injury or disease.— Alison Preston, Scientific American, December 2007 But the mystery remains: how do cells in the cortex physically lay down long-term memories?— Sandra Blakeslee, The New York Times, 14 Nov. 2000 —abbreviation LTM — compare short-term memory

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