Episodic memory is best described as:

Episodic memory is best characterized as event-related memories, as it involves the ability to recall personal experiences and specific events that have occurred in one’s life. This type of memory is distinct in that it includes contextual details such as time and place, allowing individuals to relive past experiences in a vivid manner. Episodic memories are often associated with emotional responses, as they are tied to significant experiences that an individual has had.

In contrast, options that refer to memory of semantic facts relate to semantic memory, which focuses on general knowledge and concepts rather than personal experiences. Procedural knowledge pertains to skills and tasks learned through practice, such as riding a bike or playing a musical instrument, and is not episodic in nature. Unconscious memory traces would align more with implicit memory, which operates without conscious awareness and is not based on the recall of specific personal events. This makes event-related memories the correct description of episodic memory.