Explicit/Implicit Memory Poster Nick Morse Jon Hoover Greg Marquart

Explicit Memory Explicit describe memory in “episodic” terms Example –If one were to see a word like “bike,” one might likely recall a specific bike one possessed, and perhaps a distinct event related to it.

Implicit Memory Implicit memory is knowledge we have no conscious access to. “Semantic” Example –If one were to see the word “pessimism,” one might have a good idea of the term without a specific recollection of it.

The Question at Hand Do the explicit and implicit memory systems employ separate areas of the brain to carry out their functions? –How can we test this? –What can we conclude from the results?

Methodology Presented the subject twice with a list containing words representing two separate conditions that might indicate a dissociation of memory –Concrete words (200 words) bike, desk, chair –Abstract words (200 words) pessimism, freedom, happiness The subject was then exposed to the original 400 words a second time, plus 200 new distractor words, After viewing each word, he was asked to label it as “Remember,” “Know,” or “New”

Results Compared overall brain activity between “remember” and “know” responses Brain activity for both was highest at the P4 electrode No significant difference was evident

Results (cont.) Greater brain activity for the “Remember” responses in the concrete condition than in the “know” response

Results (cont.) Conversely, there was less brain activity for the “Remember” responses in the abstract condition than in the “Know” response.

Conclusion Data collected did not support two separate memory systems – explicit and implicit Interesting result… –Data supported a difference in the way that one remembers certain terms, in our case abstract and concrete words Concrete words elicited greater “Remember” responses Abstract words elicited greater “Know” responses