Non Declarative Memory

Evaluate the evidence for the separation of declarative and non-declarative memory

In this essay, it focuses on evaluating evidence for the separation of declarative and non-declarative memory through previous studies particularly in humans and monkeys. The major issue which lie behind the question, it already has been suggested that declarative and non-declarative memory are separate. Though, studies are still going and this essay also challenges that declarative and non-declarative may not be separate. This essay backs through evidence that has been produced by previous studies to back up whether the two memory system are separate or not. This is important issue because, the human brain itself is complex system and not only scientist are

Declarative memory consist of conscious recollection of events and facts that can be described. Furthermore, declarative memory is also known as explicit memory, a memory that involves past experiences (Graf & Schacter, 1985, cited in Eysenck and Keane, 2010). On the other hand, non-declarative memory involves on subconscious recollection. Non-declarative memory is also known as implicit memory, which involves enhanced performance in the absence of conscious recollection (Eysenck and Keane, 2010). Through studies from amnesic patients suggest that declarative and non-declarative memory operates separately. This indicates, although an amnesic patient have difficulties in forming declarative memory but their ability to form non-declarative memory is not affected. As a result, this suggests that not only declarative and non-declarative operate differently but they also located separately (Eysenck and Keane,

Through various cases, the learning appears to be determined by residual ability to acquire conscious (declarative) awareness. Accordingly, Bayley and Squire (2002) learned was that conscious knowledge exhibit the characteristics of non-declarative memory. As a result, a factual information, which is learned as declarative knowledge, can be acquired as non-declarative memory. Thus, these findings suggest that declarative and non-declarative memory may not be separate (Bayley and Squire, 2002). On the other hand, patients with Parkinson’s disease, were impaired on cognitive skill task, a non-declarative memory form but competitive at the declarative memory tasks of recall and recognition (Saint-Cyr et al. 1998, cited in Squire, 1992). Thus, this suggests that declarative and non-declarative memory are located