Procedural Memory vs. Declarative Memory (Neuroscience Tips)

Discover the Surprising Differences Between Procedural Memory and Declarative Memory in Neuroscience Tips.

Step	Action	Novel Insight	Risk Factors
1	Understand the difference between procedural memory and declarative memory.	Procedural memory is the type of memory that stores motor skills and habits, while declarative memory stores factual information.	None
2	Know the types of knowledge stored in each memory system.	Procedural memory stores implicit learning, or knowledge that is acquired unconsciously, while declarative memory stores explicit knowledge, or knowledge that is consciously retrieved.	None
3	Understand the role of the hippocampus in each memory system.	The hippocampus is important for the formation and retrieval of declarative memories, but not for procedural memories.	None
4	Know the cognitive processes involved in each memory system.	Procedural memory involves the basal ganglia and cerebellum, while declarative memory involves the prefrontal cortex and temporal lobe.	None
5	Understand the differences in long-term storage between the two memory systems.	Procedural memory is more resistant to forgetting than declarative memory.	None
6	Know the potential risk factors for memory impairment.	Aging, brain injury, and certain diseases can all affect both procedural and declarative memory.	Aging, brain injury, and certain diseases.

In summary, procedural memory and declarative memory are two distinct memory systems that store different types of knowledge and involve different cognitive processes. Understanding the differences between these two memory systems can help us better understand memory impairment and potential risk factors.

Contents

1. What is the Difference Between Implicit Learning and Explicit Knowledge in Procedural Memory?
2. What Role Does the Hippocampus Play in Storing Procedural and Declarative Memories?
3. What Are the Cognitive Processes Involved in Conscious Retrieval of Procedural and Declarative Memories?
4. Common Mistakes And Misconceptions
5. Related Resources

What is the Difference Between Implicit Learning and Explicit Knowledge in Procedural Memory?

Step	Action	Novel Insight	Risk Factors
1	Understand the difference between procedural memory and declarative memory.	Procedural memory is responsible for motor skills and skill-based behavior, while declarative memory is responsible for cognitive abilities and rule-based behavior.	None
2	Define implicit learning and explicit knowledge.	Implicit learning is non-conscious acquisition of information, while explicit knowledge is conscious awareness of information.	None
3	Understand how implicit learning and explicit knowledge relate to procedural memory.	Procedural memory is primarily developed through implicit learning, while explicit knowledge is not necessary for proceduralization of tasks.	None
4	Understand the difference between skill-based behavior and rule-based behavior.	Skill-based behavior is automatic and developed through implicit learning, while rule-based behavior requires conscious awareness and intentional learning.	None
5	Understand the concept of habitual performance.	Habitual performance is the result of automaticity development and is a key aspect of procedural memory.	None
6	Understand the importance of proceduralization of tasks.	Proceduralization of tasks allows for efficient and effective performance of motor skills without the need for conscious awareness or explicit knowledge.	None
7	Understand the potential risks of relying solely on procedural memory.	Relying solely on procedural memory can lead to inflexibility and difficulty adapting to new situations.	None
8	Understand the potential benefits of developing both procedural memory and declarative memory.	Developing both types of memory can lead to more flexible and adaptable behavior, as well as improved problem-solving abilities.	None
9	Understand the concept of learning without intentionality.	Learning without intentionality can occur through implicit learning and can lead to the development of procedural memory.	None

What Role Does the Hippocampus Play in Storing Procedural and Declarative Memories?

Step	Action	Novel Insight	Risk Factors
1	Understand the difference between procedural and declarative memory	Procedural memory is the memory of how to do things, while declarative memory is the memory of facts and events	None
2	Know the role of the hippocampus in memory storage	The hippocampus is responsible for the consolidation process of memories, which involves encoding information and storing it in long-term memory	None
3	Understand how the hippocampus stores procedural and declarative memories	The hippocampus plays a crucial role in storing declarative memories, such as episodic and semantic memories, by forming new synaptic connections through long-term potentiation. However, it has a less significant role in storing procedural memories, such as spatial navigation, which are stored in other brain regions	None
4	Know the importance of neural plasticity and neurotransmitters in memory storage	Neural plasticity, the brain’s ability to change and adapt, is crucial for memory storage. Neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and acetylcholine, play a role in strengthening synaptic connections and facilitating memory retrieval	Neurological disorders or injuries that affect neural plasticity or neurotransmitter function can impair memory storage
5	Understand the potential consequences of hippocampal damage	Damage to the hippocampus can result in amnesia, the loss of memory function. This can affect cognitive function and daily life	None

What Are the Cognitive Processes Involved in Conscious Retrieval of Procedural and Declarative Memories?

Step	Action	Novel Insight	Risk Factors
1	Encoding information	Procedural memory is encoded through repetition and practice, while declarative memory is encoded through semantic and episodic associations.	Poor encoding can lead to difficulty in retrieving memories later on.
2	Memory consolidation	Procedural memory is consolidated through long-term potentiation (LTP) and synaptic plasticity in the basal ganglia, while declarative memory is consolidated through LTP and synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus.	Disruption of memory consolidation can lead to memory loss or difficulty in retrieving memories.
3	Retrieval cues	Procedural memory is retrieved through contextual reinstatement, while declarative memory is retrieved through mnemonic strategies and retrieval-induced forgetting.	Inadequate retrieval cues can lead to difficulty in retrieving memories.
4	Attentional control mechanisms	Procedural memory retrieval is less dependent on attentional control mechanisms, while declarative memory retrieval is more dependent on attentional control mechanisms.	Poor attentional control can lead to difficulty in retrieving memories.
5	Working memory capacity	Procedural memory retrieval is less dependent on working memory capacity, while declarative memory retrieval is more dependent on working memory capacity.	Limited working memory capacity can lead to difficulty in retrieving memories.
6	Memory reconsolidation	Procedural memory is less susceptible to memory reconsolidation, while declarative memory is more susceptible to memory reconsolidation.	Disruption of memory reconsolidation can lead to memory loss or difficulty in retrieving memories.
7	Hippocampus function	Procedural memory is less dependent on hippocampus function, while declarative memory is more dependent on hippocampus function.	Damage to the hippocampus can lead to difficulty in retrieving declarative memories.

Common Mistakes And Misconceptions

Mistake/Misconception	Correct Viewpoint
Procedural memory and declarative memory are the same thing.	Procedural memory and declarative memory are two distinct types of long-term memory that differ in terms of their content, processing, and neural substrates. While procedural memories involve learning how to perform motor skills or habits without conscious awareness, declarative memories refer to the conscious recollection of facts, events, or concepts.
Only one type of long-term memory is involved in a particular task or activity.	Most tasks and activities require the integration of both procedural and declarative memories to achieve optimal performance. For example, playing a musical instrument involves not only memorizing notes (declarative) but also developing muscle coordination (procedural). Similarly, navigating through a city requires both remembering street names (declarative) and acquiring spatial maps (procedural).
Procedural memories cannot be consciously accessed or verbalized.	Although procedural memories may not be easily verbalized or explicitly recalled like declarative memories, they can still influence behavior and cognition in subtle ways. For instance, people with amnesia who have lost their ability to form new explicit memories can still learn new motor skills through implicit processes mediated by the basal ganglia system.
Declarative memories always involve conscious effortful processing.	While some aspects of declarative learning may require deliberate attentional resources such as studying for an exam or recalling specific details from an event; other forms of declarative knowledge acquisition can occur spontaneously without much cognitive effort such as incidental learning during everyday experiences.
The brain regions responsible for procedural vs.declarativememoryare completely separateand independent from each other.	While there is some degree of functional specialization between different brain regions involved in either typeofmemory,suchasbasalgangliaforproceduralmemoryandhippocampusfordeclarativememory,there is also considerable overlap and interaction between these systems. For example, the cerebellum which is primarily associated with motor learning has been shown to play a role in some forms of declarative memory such as verbal working memory.

Related Resources

Impaired procedural memory in narcolepsy type 1.

Alterations of procedural memory consolidation in children with developmental dyslexia.

[Neural basis of procedural memory].