There is provided an optical recording medium comprising a recording layer containing a charge-generating material capable of generating a first electric charge and a second electric charge by beam irradiation, the second electric charge having a different polarity from that of the first electric charge, a charge-transport material enabling at least the first electric charge to be transported to isolate the first electric charge and the second electric charge, and a trapping material retaining the first electric charge. The optical characteristics of the recording layer is changed in accordance with changes in spatial distribution of the first and second electric charges, and the trapping material is provided with a conjugated system and with at least one nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group, and bonded through an unsaturated carbon atom of the heterocyclic group to the conjugated system.