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Procedural Memory

Definition

Procedural memory is a part of the long-term memory responsible for knowing how to do things, also known as motor skills.

Analogy

Consider procedural memory as an automatic pilot. It helps us perform tasks without conscious thought once they've been learned - like riding a bike or typing on a keyboard.

Related terms

Implicit Memory: This refers to unconscious memories which we may not recall deliberately but express in other ways such as improved performance on tasks.

Motor Skill Learning: This involves learning to perform physical actions with precision often through repetition until it becomes second nature.

Habituation: A form of learning in which an organism decreases or ceases its responses to a stimulus after repeated presentations.

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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.