Types of Memory

Types of Memory

Semantic Memory

  • Memory for factual information.

  • Examples: state capitals, class information, trivia.

Episodic Memory

  • Memory for personal experiences.

  • Examples: childhood birthday, first day of college, family trip.

Procedural Memory

  • Stored knowledge of how to do things.

  • Examples: tying shoes, riding a bike, driving a car.

Explicit Memory

  • Memory we are consciously aware of and can declare.

  • Includes semantic and episodic memories.

Implicit Memory

  • Unintentionally memorized information.

  • Procedural memory is a form of implicit memory.

  • Amnesia patients can lose explicit but retain implicit memories.

Short-Term Memory (Working Memory)

  • Information currently active in our minds, held for about 30 seconds.

  • Requires rehearsal to maintain.

Long-Term Memory

  • Consolidated information from short-term memory.

  • Information can be pulled from long-term memory back into working memory.

Working Memory Capacity

  • Limited capacity, about seven pieces of information plus or minus two.

Chunking

  • Grouping separate pieces of information to reduce the information load.

  • Example: 1,7,7,61, 7, 7, 6 as separate digits vs. 17761776 as a year.