What is declarative memory?

Memory is the story of our history. It shows who we are, and also how we see ourselves in the future. Also how to drive or ride a bike. Your content is one of our most precious resources. Today we talk to you about a special type of memory, declarative memory.

Theoretically, memory is divided into non-declarative or procedural memory, related to skill learning, and declarative memory. In non-declarative memory we store procedures, such as driving, riding a bike or doing the most routine tasks on the computer..

On the other hand, Declarative memory, or explicit memory, is that which stores memories that can be consciously evoked. In turn, it is divided into two. On the one hand, episodic memory and, on the other, semantic memory.

Episodic memory

Episodic memory stores memories related to personal events. Thus, it is responsible for making you remember that beautiful trip or the afternoons during childhood playing with friends in the park. It allows us to recount our memories.

This information is located in time and space, so the force of the context surrounding memories is very strong. Furthermore, this is linked to the fact that the reference of the memory is the person themselves. Therefore, many times the lure by which a memory returns to our focus of attention are the circumstances, such as when it took place or where it happened.

Due to that strong temporal connection, episodic memory is more susceptible to forgetting and interference. This is why distortions often occur in the details of autobiographical memories, for example, confusing places or time.

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This is especially true when someone asks us to give details about memories, as in the case of witnesses. In that case, the expectations that the other may have of us, the possible influence of questions or our desire to please the interlocutor can produce changes in memory.

Brain structures involved

The medial temporal lobe, where the hippocampus is located, is involved in creating new episodic memories. The prefrontal cortex appears to be of great importance when it comes to spatially and temporally encoding memories. That is, it helps remember where and when an experience was lived, helping to better organize memories.

Episodic memory disorders

The main disorder that affects episodic memory is Alzheimer’s disease. The amnesia of these memories appears in the first phases, since the hippocampus is one of the first structures affected. Episodic memory failure is also common in shellfish poisoning amnesia, which can cause irreversible damage. As well as in Korsakoff Syndrome.

Stress and drug use, such as ecstasy or MDMA, are also related to significant impairment of this type of memory.

Semantic memory

This type of memory contains information about knowledge about the language and facts about the world. Acting as an encyclopedia and dictionary, it is what allows you to know, for example, what banana and fruit mean, and to know what relationship there is between the two ideas.

This type of knowledge It has a generic and decontextualized character, although it can often be linked to episodic memory.a, and that makes it easier to remember. For example, if you learned the meaning of Rue de Rivoli when you went to the Louvre museum on last summer’s trip.

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Brain structures involved

There are authors who argue that semantic memory has the same brain structures in common with episodic memory. However, There are studies that do not find a relationship between the hippocampus and semantic memorywhile with the episodic yes.

Other authors relate it to the temporal neocortex, and others indicate that There are several structures that are involved, depending on the knowledge that you want to recover.. For example, knowledge related to the sound of a falling can would activate the auditory cortex. Remembering what color a cow is would activate the visual cortex. Furthermore, the bilateral temporal lobe is related to the integration of all semantic information.

Semantic memory disorders

The Semantic dementia is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects the temporal lobe. In it, both the ability to name objects and access to their meaning can be affected. Those who suffer from it will gradually see their ability to categorize concepts in detail deteriorate. Thus, for example, their ability to use familiar words or recognize objects visually is affected.

Besides, the Alzheimer’s disease generally presents deterioration in specific categoriessince patients fail to name or describe objects.