Implicit memory

Implicit memory refers to knowledge that is expressed unconsciously.

• Classical conditioning is an example of implicit memory.
  • E.g., a dog salivating at the sound of a bell because it has learned an unconscious association between the bell and food.
• Procedural knowledge is often (but not always) implicit.
  • When we first learn new tasks such as riding a bike, we need to think consciously (explicitly) about them. Eventually it might become implicit.
• Declarative memory can also be implicit.
  • Semantic associations are often unconscious or implicit, such as that the word “strawberry” probably automatically makes you think of related concepts such as “red”, “sweet”, “fruit”, etc.

Explicit memory

Explicit memory refers to knowledge that is expressed consciously.

There are two types of explicit memory:

• Recall
• Recognition

Recall

Recall refers to the retrieval of information that is stored in long-term memory. For example:

• An eyewitness of a robbery describing what happened.
• Responding to short-answer questions in an exam.

Recognition

Recognition refers to being presented with a stimulus and recognising that it is the same information that had previously been stored in long-term memory. For example:

• An eyewitness being asked to indicate which person in a line-up is the bankrobber.
• Answering multiple-choice questions in an exam.

Recognition is generally easier than recall.