This Is the Main Difference Between Implicit and Explicit Memory
Research continues to indicate how imperative it is for us to start protecting our memory earlier in life. But when it comes to implicit vs. explicit memory, what’s the difference? Why are they important? And how can you protect both as you age?
Both implicit and explicit memory are types of long-term memory, which is defined by the transfer of information from short-term memory into long-term storage in order to create enduring memories. Long-term memory is unlimited in capacity and stable—lasting for years or even a lifetime. With that being said, implicit and explicit memory work very differently under the long-term memory umbrella.
Meet the Experts: Sarah Adler, Psy.D., clinical psychologist and founder of Wave; Agnesa Papazyan, Psy.D., clinical psychologist at SoCal Psychology Center.
Here, psychology experts explain what you need to know about your brain and how to keep it sharp for years to come.
What is implicit memory?
Implicit memory is a type of long-term memory that allows you to remember things automatically, without a lot of effort, or unconsciously, says Sarah Adler, Psy.D., clinical psychologist and founder of Wave. In other words, they’re memories that you may not be consciously aware of but that affect your behaviors or skills, says Agnesa Papazyan, Psy.D., clinical psychologist at SoCal Psychology Center.
There are three different kinds of implicit memory to make note of: priming, classical conditioning (sometimes known as Pavlovian conditioning), and procedural memory, says Papazyan. Here is a quick run-down of the types of implicit memory to know:
Priming: Priming is when exposure to a stimulus influences the response to another stimulus, says Papazyan. “A good example of this is when you hear the word yellow, you may think of banana, as opposed to some other unrelated word like ocean.”
Conditioning: Conditioning is when something is learned through an association (e.g. Pavlov’s dogs and bell example), Papazyan explains. “A good example of this for children is having a fear of shots, because the first time they got a shot it hurt them or they were scared by it. They may be fearful of shots moving forward, as they associate the needle with getting hurt and feeling scared.”
Procedural: Procedural memory includes the motor skills and habits that we develop more naturally as we grow up, including learning how to ride a bike (e.g. you never forget how to, they say) or typing on a keyboard, says Papazyan. In other words, this kind of memory consists of the skills you learn that work on auto-pilot or where you don’t have to relearn the steps every time you perform the task, says Adler.
What is explicit memory?
Explicit memory refers to information and memories that we can consciously recollect, recall, and describe to some extent, says Papazyan. “This includes specific memories of times throughout your life (e.g. a fun family vacation, scoring a goal at a special soccer game).” Explicit memory is also how we store our more general knowledge, including facts, concepts, and the meanings behind certain things, Papazyan explains.
There are two forms of explicit memory, says Adler. Here are the types of explicit memory to know:
Episodic: Memory that involves conscious recollection of previous experiences together with their context in terms of time, place, and/or associated emotions. For example, recalling your wedding day, your sixteenth birthday, or another episode or experience, says Adler.
Semantic: Memory which refers to facts, names, or other general language-based knowledge, explains Adler. For example, remembering the capital of a country.
What’s the difference between implicit and explicit memory?
The main difference between the two types of long-term memory is how implicit memory lives in the subconscious mind, whereas explicit memory comes from conscious thought, says Papazyan. “Implicit memory involves one’s skills or habits that they don’t have to think of on a day-to-day basis. Explicit memory refers to specific events and one’s general knowledge and understanding of the world around them,” she explains.
We also measure these types of memories differently, Papazyan continues. “Explicit memory is measured through tasks that require a conscious effort to recall, such as remembering a list of words for a vocabulary test,” she notes.
What this means is that implicit memory becomes automatic over time with repetition and helps us learn skills and master tasks, whereas explicit memory is encoded and then later retrieved deliberately and often through rehearsal, says Adler.
What influences implicit and explicit memory?
There are a few factors that can impact both types of memory, including but not limited to age, attention (more important for explicit memories as implicit memories form with less conscious attention), repeated exposure, emotional states associated with the memory, sleep, and more, says Papazyan. “Both implicit and explicit memory can change with age, but explicit memory declines more significantly as we get older,” she explains.
Other factors, like how much we were paying attention, can influence how memories are formed in the brain, as can our emotions, says Papazyan. For example, “implicit memory, though classical conditioning in particular, can be influenced by our emotions (e.g. child associating shots with crying),” Papazyan adds.
According to Adler, implicit memory can often result from responding in the same way to other stimuli that is similar or “priming” and is often dependent on the context of cues. “For example, knowing where the keys are on a keyboard without looking at the keyboard.” Meanwhile, explicit memory is often tied to emotions and can be influenced by associations, she points out.
How implicit and explicit memory work together
For almost everything you do, your implicit and explicit memory systems are working incidentally and with different rules of operations but they often work in parallel, says Adler. “For example, my implicit memory allows me to engage in motor actions or physical movements like taking a walk, but my explicit memory lets me remember the map I studied to know how to get to a new place. Implicit memory allows me to drive to work on autopilot, but explicit memory is what’s driving my need to be at work at 8:30 for that important Zoom call,” she explains.
All memory is impacted by emotional states, stress and other environmental factors, but sometimes in paradoxical ways, Adler continues. “Working memory, for example, which is kind of like the holding container for information you’re focusing on when trying to memorize, is highly negatively impacted by high levels of stress, whereas high levels of stress are thought to create stronger implicit memories through their connection to negative emotions,” she notes.
In general, implicit and explicit memory work together to support one’s overall learning and understanding of the world around them, says Papazyan. One example of how explicit and implicit memory works together is driving a car. “At once, we must remember the directions (explicit) of where we are headed while also remembering how to drive the car itself (implicit),” she explains.
How to protect implicit and explicit memory
You can protect both your implicit and explicit memory by staying mentally and socially engaged, says Papazyan. “Maintaining friendships and a social community can be very beneficial for our cognitive health, especially as we age, as can engaging in challenging cognitive activities like crossword puzzles or learning a new language.”
You also want to do things like eat a healthy, nutrient-rich diet to ensure your body is getting the vitamins and minerals it needs to thrive, as well as regular exercise or movement and adequate sleep, Papazyan continues. “Sleep is incredibly important for our overall cognitive health and is important for memory consolidation,” she adds.
Finally, you’ll want to manage your stress in the short- and long-term, says Papazyan. “Chronic stress may impair memory, so incorporating self-care and stress-reducing activities like mindfulness or going on relaxing walks can be really helpful,” she advises
Adler agrees, saying that protecting your brain isn’t that much different than protecting your body. “Keeping stress managed, sleeping and eating well, and getting physical activity are all correlated with better memory.”
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