Mechanisms for memory types differ

The formation of long-term memory takes several hours 1 , 2 , 3 , during which time memories rely on short-term systems 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 . For over 100 years 1 , the main unanswered question of memory research has been whether short-term memory is a necessary step towards long-term memory 4 , 5 , or whether they are separate processes 1 , 2 . Here we report four treatments that block short-term memory while leaving long-term memory intact, showing that these memory systems are separate to some degree.