Declarative memory

Declarative memory is the aspect of memory that stores facts and events. It applies to standard textbook learning and knowledge, and is contrasted with procedural memory, which applies to skills.

Declarative memory is subject to forgetting, but frequently-accessed memories can last indefinitely. Declarative memories are best established by using active recall combined with mnemonic techniques and spaced repetition.

Declarative memory can be divided into episodic memory (knowledge about the event of learning something) and semantic memory (knowledge independent of context).

Declarative memory requires the hippocampus and related areas of the cortex.

See also

• Propositional knowledge
• Procedural memory