1. What It Is
Memory is a process that involves retaining a learning experience over time. Declarative memory is a person's memory of facts or events. As opposed to procedural, or subconscious memory, declarative memory is learned information. Examples of declarative memory are phone numbers or the makeup of chemical compounds. Declarative memory is dependent on explicit association with events. Long-term memory is a type of declarative memory. People retain long-term memory over a long period of time, even after distractions.
2. Where It Is
Declarative memory is physically located in several parts of the brain. The main location of declarative memory is the hippocampus and temporal cortex. Because of where it originates, declarative memory is a higher-level brain function. An example of higher-level cognitive function is speech and language. Declarative memory also depends on several other parts of the brain to work in conjunction with the hippocampus and temporal cortex for it to work properly.
3. Types of Declarative Memory
There are two types of declarative memory. Episodic memory refers to autobiographical information. Semantic memory serves to maintain learned and factual information, such as definitions and vocabulary. These two types of memory are independent of each other. They are both located in the neocortex of the brain, in the right frontal and temporal lobes. There is also a related sensory declarative memory, which is a quickly disintegrating sensory recall of an event. Sensory events are stored in the right side of the left hemisphere in the brain.
4. Evidence of Declarative Memory
Most testing of declarative memory involves amnesiacs. Since amnesiacs have declarative memory loss, researchers use them in studies versus a control group of people without memory problems. These studies give reliable results about declarative memory and what it affects. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans reveal damage to the brain, so doctors have found the location of declarative memory loss.
5. Declarative Memory Loss
Amnesia is the most studied example of declarative memory loss. Amnesia affects the autobiographical information portion of declarative memory. Often, people lose semantic memory as they age. Alzheimer's disease affects declarative memory, as well as procedural memory. Alzheimer's patients are unable to retain new memories, but recall most old memories. Some viruses cause damage to the medial temporal lobe and hippocampus, which leads to problems with declarative memory.
