7.9 : Explicit Memories

Explicit memories, also known as declarative memories, are consciously remembered, recalled, and reported. Studying for a chemistry exam involves material that will become part of explicit memory. There are two types of explicit memory: episodic and semantic.

Episodic memory contains information about personally experienced events and is reported as a story. An example of episodic memory is recalling a birthday celebration. This type of memory includes the what, where, and when of an event, as well as the emotions surrounding it.

In contrast, semantic memory consists of knowledge about words, concepts, and language-based information. It is typically reported as facts and pertains to language and knowledge about language. Semantic memory includes areas of expertise, general knowledge, meanings of words, famous individuals, significant places, and common objects. For instance, knowing that Lima is the capital of Peru can be accessed without recalling specifically when and where it was learned. This type of memory appears independent of personal identity with the past.

An important difference between episodic memory and semantic memory is that episodic memory is autobiographical, meaning it is tied to personal experiences and context, and semantic memory is not. An example of episodic memory would be remembering the plot of a movie that you have recently watched, or how excited you felt during a vacation. In contrast, an example of semantic memory would be knowing that water boils at 100 degrees Celsius or that the Eiffel Tower is located in Paris.

Understanding these two types of explicit memory underscores the complexity and diversity of human memory, demonstrating how different experiences and knowledge are stored and recalled.