Memory types refer to the different ways in which information is stored and retrieved in the brain. The two main categories are short-term memory and long-term memory. Short-term memory holds information temporarily, allowing us to remember things for a brief period, such as a phone number we just heard. It typically lasts for about 20 to 30 seconds. Long-term memory, on the other hand, is where information is stored for extended periods, potentially for a lifetime. This type of memory can be further divided into explicit memory, which involves conscious recall of facts and events, and implicit memory, which includes skills and tasks we perform without thinking, like riding a bike.