Explicit Memory

Explicit memory is the conscious, intentional recollection of previous experiences and information stored within the brain. We all use this form of memory each day to help us remember what we will eat for dinner or for instance when recollecting people, events and circumstances from years ago.

Explicit memory involves the conscious recollection of both short and long-term memories. It is episodic, semantic and autobiographical. In fact, it is a rather slow form of memory where it allows us to consciously control various movements of our body. For instance, when you’re learning to dance you need to consciously think about all your movements while using the explicit memory system. This is an example of explicit memory in action, which is of course different to implicit memory system which allows you to perform these actions automatically without concentrating on what you’re doing.

• Source: Explicit Memory

Implicit Memory

Implicit memory is a type of memory in which previous experiences aid the performance of a task without conscious awareness of these previous experiences. In other words, it is the memory used to what you do and continuously practice becomes second nature. It’s akin to a muscle memory where you no longer need to think about what you’re doing in order to perform a task or activity.

Implicit memory is something we develop over time with the diligent practice of a certain skill or activity. It is priming, perceptual and procedural.

In daily life, people rely on their implicit memory in the form of procedural memory. This is effectively the type of memory that allows people to remember how to tie their shoes or ride a bicycle without consciously thinking about these activities.

Research into implicit memory indicates that it operates through a different mental process from explicit memory. In fact, once a task or activity has been mastered the actions pertaining to that task or activity get moved from explicit to the implicit memory system. As such, the person undertaking these movements is now free to put to use their explicit memory for other tasks and activities. What this means is that implicit memory allows us to multi-task by doing several things at once as long as one of those tasks comes directly through the implicit memory system.

• Source: Implicit Memory

Procedural Memory

Procedural memory is memory that allows us to perform various types of actions without much conscious thought or awareness. It is based on implicit learning.

When needed, procedural memories are automatically retrieved and utilized for the execution of the integrated procedures involved in both cognitive and motor skills, from tying shoes to flying an airplane to reading.

Procedural memories are accessed and used without the need for conscious control or attention and is deeply rooted into long-term memory and, more specifically, it’s a subset of implicit memory.

Studies have shows that people do better in given task or activity as a result of repetition when no new explicit memories are formed. Rather the person is primarily accessing aspects of previous experiences. In other words, when it comes to procedural memory, anything that is remembered is automatically translated into actions.

To explain this another way, procedural memory is created through “procedural learning” or, repeating a complex activity over and over again until all of the relevant neural systems work together to automatically produce the activity. Implicit procedural learning is essential for the development of any motor skill or cognitive activity.

• Source: Procedural Memory