Long-term memory requires elaborative encoding in the inner part of the temporal lobes. If the left inferior prefrontal lobe is damaged or undeveloped, there will be grave difficulty with elaborative encoding. Hence, it is very unlikely that any story of having a memory of life in the cradle or in the womb is accurate. The brains of infants and very young children are capable of storing fragmented memories, however. Such memories cannot be explicit or deeply encoded, but they can nevertheless have influence.
Semantic memory contains conceptual and factual knowledge.
Procedural memory allows us to learn new skills and acquire habits. Another important distinction is that between field and observer memory. Field memories are those where the rememberer sees himself or herself in the scene. Observer memories are those seen through the rememberer's eyes. Studies on memory have shown that we often construct our memories after the fact, that we are susceptible to suggestions from others that help us fill in the gaps in our memories.