The two most enduring memory systems are typically considered to be:
Declarative Memory (Explicit Memory): Declarative memory is responsible for storing factual information and personal experiences that can be consciously recalled and described. It is further divided into two subtypes:
a. Episodic Memory: Episodic memory involves the recollection of specific events, experiences, and personal episodes with a temporal and spatial context. It allows individuals to remember personal experiences and events in their lives.
b. Semantic Memory: Semantic memory involves the storage of general knowledge, facts, concepts, and information that is not tied to specific personal experiences. It encompasses our understanding of language, facts about the world, and other general knowledge.
Non-Declarative Memory (Implicit Memory): Non-declarative memory refers to the memory for skills, habits, and behaviours that are acquired and expressed without conscious effort or awareness. It includes various forms of procedural memory and conditioning.
Some examples of non-declarative memory include:
a. Procedural Memory: Procedural memory involves the acquisition and retention of motor skills, habits, and actions. It allows individuals to perform tasks and activities automatically without conscious thought, such as riding a bicycle or typing on a keyboard.
b. Classical Conditioning: Classical conditioning refers to the learning of associations between stimuli, where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a response through repeated pairing with an unconditioned stimulus. This form of learning is often associated with emotional or physiological responses.
These two memory systems work in conjunction and play distinct roles in the encoding, storage, and retrieval of information and experiences. Declarative memory enables us to consciously recall facts and events, while non-declarative memory influences our behaviours and skills without conscious effort.