For example, things that occur to us in emotionally charged conditions are often stronger memories.

How well we record an episodic memory depends on several factors. Any past event in which we played a part, and which we remember as an “episode” (a scene of events) is episodic. It is our episodic memory that allows us to remember the trip we took to Vegas, what we had for dinner last night, who told us that our friend Maryann was pregnant. Episodic memory is autobiographical: it provides us with a crucial record of our personal experiences. Episodic MemoryĮpisodic memory is one type of explicit memory. For example, when you think of a word or occasion, such as an automobile, your memory can bring up a whole host of associated memories-from carburetors to your commute to a family road trip to a thousand other things. Explicit memory is often associative your brain links memories together. It’s what most people have in mind when they think of “memory,” and whether theirs is good or bad. (The other is implicit memory.) Explicit memory requires conscious thought-such as recalling who came to dinner last night or naming animals that live in the rainforest.

Test Your Knowledge with a Crossword PuzzleĮxplicit memory (also called “declarative memory”) is one of the two major subdivisions of long-term memory.

Your Brain on Booze: Alcohol and the Brain.

5 Proven Brain Benefits of Drinking Coffee.

Brain Foods and Brain Healthy Nutrition.

The Difference Between Alzheimer’s and Dementia.

What is the Difference Between Brain Training and Brain Games?.The Institute of Medicine’s Checklist for Brain Training.