Procedural Memory

Definition-  memory for how to do things

eg. ride a bike,               drive a car, or            play a video game

                    

Characteristics    Can be referred to as implicit memory.

   The contents of procedural long term memory cannot verbally be explained. (Can you explain how you ride a bike?)

   Performance of activities or skills is the only method to convey procedural long term memory.

*    This performance of skills is task specific.

*    Alterations in neural processing structures are most likely the cause of procedural   skills.


Procedural memory can be related to the knowledge of rules of action and procedures, which can become quite automatic with repetition.  Practicing a certain task a lot or a little is procedural knowledge. Often a person will learn how to perform a task but will have no awareness of how it was learned. This occurs when the individual is using their procedural memory.

Allard (2001).
 
 

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