Declarative Memory
Contents
Declarative Memory
Basic Characteristics
- Description
Declarative memory is an aspect of human memory that stores facts, or explicit memories. Declarative memory is known as declarative memory because it is a conscious memory that can be mentally and physically declared or discussed. A memory is encoded through conscious learning and can often be learned quickly, through a single trial. There are two types of memories which occur under declarative memory: semantic memory and Episodic Memory. Semantic memory is known as factual knowledge that is independent of time and place. And Episodic Memory is theoretical knowledge of a specific moment in time or in a specific place, often called a personal experience. One example of declarative memory is recognition memory. The recognition memory consists of two parts; a re-collective (episodic) component that supports the ability to remember the episode in which an item was presented and a familiarity component that does not remember the episode, but does remember the item that was presented. Declarative memory uses the medial temporal lobes, and research has found an especially strong connection with declarative memory and the hippocampus. Declarative memory also uses related areas in the cerebral cortex of the brain. Deficits in declarative memory are associated with various mental illnesses including Alzheimer’s disease and Bipolar Disorder.
- History
In the late 19th century William James wrote Principles of Psychology. He distinguished memories from habits. He described the creation of associations that must be formed in order to create memories. And his description of memories were based upon long term memories pertaining to facts, which today is described as declarative memory. Declarative memory is often discussed in connection with semantic memory and Episodic Memory. See semantic memory, Episodic Memory and long term memory for further details about the history of these forms of memory.
- References
Tulving and Markowitsch, 1998. Episodic and declarative memory: role of the hippocampus. PMID 9662134
Eichenbaum, 2006. Remembering: functional organization of the declarative memory system. PMID 16920614
Ogren et al, 2008. The role of 5-HT(1A) receptors in learning and memory. PMID 18394726
Knowlton and Squire, 1995. Remembering and knowing: two different expressions of declarative memory. PMID 7602267
Manns et al, 2003 Recognition Memory and the Human Hippocampus PMID 12526782
Related Information
- Task or test associated with this construct (vote for your favorite, or nominate a new one by editing this page):
- Indicators (dependent variables, conditions, or contrasts; measurement variables used for analysis) associated with this construct (vote or nominate by editing this page):
- Closely related pages (vote or nominate related pages by editing this page): Delayed Response, n-back test, Paired Associates Learning, Recognition Memory Test, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test WCST
- CNP Level
External Resources
- Links out:
- Google: Declarative Memory
- Wikipedia: Declarative Memory
- PubBrain: Declarative Memory
- PubMed: Declarative Memory
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- Database links