Declarative Memory: Two Types
- Semantic memory: General knowledge, facts, and concepts.
- Examples: George Washington was the first president, the meaning of “multiple.”
- Episodic memory: Personal experiences and events.
- Examples: Autobiographical memories, specific events.
Episodic to Semantic Shift
- Storytelling and memory: Repeated retelling of an episodic memory can transform it into a semantic memory.
- Loss of detail: Semantic memories lack the specific context and sensory information of episodic memories.
- Example: A family story about a child’s mischievous behavior evolves from a detailed recollection to a shared anecdote.
Key Points:
- Semantic and episodic memories are distinct types of declarative memory.
- Episodic memories can degrade into semantic memories over time through repeated retelling.