There are many theories on our long-term memories are formed. More recently researchers have proposed the concept of long-term potentiation. This is built on the premise that when we when we learn things we create a link between brain cells. The more we use this link, the stronger it becomes creating a long-term memory.

Implicit memory is also known as unconscious memory or automatic memory and are the memories that are hard to say.[i] It uses our past experiences to enable us to remember things without thinking about them. Procedural memories are a type of implicit memory. They include the skills we learn to such how to ride a bike or button a shirt. Learn more here

So explicit memories are those we can talk about including the memories about events as well as memories about facts.

Long-term memory is more like what we think of when we think of memory. Like the hard drive that stores all of our data. Long-term memory is also the memory we talk about when we say that our memory is our self. It makes up all the knowledge that we have acquired in life. It makes up a record of the events that have happened to us. It makes up the skills we learned.

Our short-term memory has several everyday uses. It helps update us on what has changed, it stops us standing at an open fridge confused and helps us keep track of conversations. Learn more here.