Over time memories can lose their episodic elements but retain semantic ones.

Semanticization of remote memories

Tulving suggests that memory of previous events, termed “episodic memory,” is different from “semantic memory” that is used for facts (p. 121-122). Retrieval of episodic memory requires remembering something consciously, while retrieval of semantic memory requires knowledge of information separate from personal experiences. Some amnesiac patients have difficulty accessing episodic memory, but are able to develop semantic knowledge (p. 122).

Episodic vs. Semantic Memory

Living things are identified using sensory objects and artifacts by functions. This leads to the conclusion that our ability to differentiate artifacts and living things comes from our semantic memory (which has a system for distinguishing sensory attributes and another for functions).

Sensory-functional (S-F) hypothesis

A form of memory loss where knowledge of all concepts is affected (regardless of category). Patients are typically equally bad at distinguishing living things and animals.

Semantic dementia

Memory of facts (i.e. recalling the president of the US) that is not associated with a particular time or context. 

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

University of Toledo

Types of explicit memory

Various researchers distinguish between memory drawing from experience vs. memory drawing from knowledge.

Distinctions Between Experience & Knowledge in Memory

Goldstein, E. B. (2014). Cognitive psychology: Connecting mind, research and everyday experience. Nelson Education.


Cognitive psychology: Connecting mind, research and everyday experience

Semantic memory

Memory for experiences that feels like you are reliving such an experience (i.e recalling life events that have a storyline). Involves "mental time travel".

Episodic memory

While planning a trip to Paris, someone remembers two key pieces of information: (1) the fact that the Eiffel Tower is located in Paris, and (2) the detailed personal memory of the delicious croissant they ate at a specific café during their last visit five years ago. How are these two memories best categorized?

Research surrounding memory in neuroscience demonstrated a difference between declarative and procedural memory. Studies demonstrated the ability among amnesiacs to learn visuomotor skills, although they could not recall recent happenings that included the learning of the skills. Amnesiacs also demonstrate repetition priming—increased ability to recognize a stimulus when it was encountered previously. Cohen and Squire conclude that amnesiacs’ ability to learn a task is dependent upon the information involved. They view amnesiacs as struggling with declarative memory—which requires recall of specific material—while retaining procedural memory—which is used to perform procedures.

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