Question

What is the main difference between Declarative and Procedural Memory?

A) Declarative memory is conscious, while procedural memory is unconscious.
B) Declarative memory involves physical skills, while procedural memory stores facts.
C) Declarative memory is permanent, while procedural memory is temporary.
D) Declarative memory is stored in the prefrontal cortex, while procedural memory is stored in the hippocampus.

Answer 1

Declarative memory is a conscious form of memory that can be expressed in words and includes episodic and semantic memories, processed in the hippocampus. Procedural memory is unconscious and relates to skills and actions, associated with the cerebellum.

Step-by-step explanation:

The main difference between declarative memory and procedural memory is that declarative memory is conscious and can be verbally expressed, while procedural memory is unconscious and reflected in the performance of skills and actions. Declarative memory, also known as explicit memory, includes episodic memory, which is information about events we have personally experienced, and semantic memory, which concerns facts and general knowledge. This contrasts with procedural memory, which is a subcategory of implicit memory and involves how to perform various skills and actions, such as riding a bicycle or playing a musical instrument.

Brain areas involved in these memory types differ as well. While declarative memories are processed and encoded primarily in the hippocampus, procedural memories are associated with the cerebellum. Known as the physical trace of memory, or engram, the storage and retrieval of these memories are handled by different parts of the brain, indicating specialized processes for the different forms of memory.