AnnaMarie Houlis
Ever hop on a bike after years of not riding one?
Pick up an instrument you used to play all the time but haven’t had time for lately?
Been told you’re a natural at something?
If something feels like second nature, it may be because you have memories of it in your nondeclarative memory.
The American Psychological Association defines nondeclarative memory as “a collection of various forms of memory that operate automatically and accumulate information that is not accessible to conscious recollection.”
Here’s what you need to know about nondeclarative memory.
What Does Nondeclarative Memory Do?
Sometimes referred to as implicit memory, motor memory or procedural memory, nondeclarative memory encompasses your subconscious memories.
Because it sits in the back of your mind, it supports certain skills and habits, as well as procedural learning and priming. You might not even notice it, but your nondeclarative memory can color your thoughts, beliefs and, therefore, behaviors.
More specifically, nondeclarative memory is preserved in your medial temporal amnesia, which is independent from your medial temporal lobes. It functions differently from the other type of long-term memory declarative memory.
“For this memory to form, overt conscious appreciation of memory is not necessary,” research explains. “For example, performing skilled tasks using the hands, such as buttoning a shirt or tying a shoelace, do not need continuous attention—they are done almost automatically.”
Here are some examples of nondeclarative memory, how it works and how you can improve it.
Examples of Nondeclarative Memory
Your nondeclarative memory holds onto memories that you don’t consciously remember. For example, you might be able to ride a bicycle, even if you don’t necessarily recall the time that you learned.
Similarly, you do not need to make a conscious effort to swim. Knowing how to swim is rooted in previously learned motor memories, so you don’t need to depend on active recall. Once you know how to swim, it just comes naturally to you.
Another example of a nondeclarative memory being able to cook a certain recipe without much thought because you’ve made that meal before. You already know how to do it and, the more you do, the quicker it comes to you.
Nondeclarative Memory vs Declarative Memory
Nondeclarative memory is very different from declarative memory. Declarative memory is the second type of long-term memory that involves consciously recollecting.
For example, instead of knowing how to make the meal you had for dinner last night (which would be in your nondeclarative memory), recalling what you had for dinner last night would be in your declarative memory.
Types of Nondeclarative Memory
There are different subtypes of nondeclarative memory. While the following all fall under the umbrella term, nondeclarative memory, they are slightly different from one another.
Procedural Memory
Procedural memory refers to recollections that don’t have any conscious ties whatsoever. For example, if you can swim, you might not necessarily remember learning how to do it. Still, you know how to swim.
Procedural memory facilitates your performance of tasks, from swimming to making the bed.
Priming Memory
Priming memory refers to the memories that bubble up when you’re exposed to different stimuli. For example, a car crash survivor might feel triggered by sudden stops in traffic because their priming memory hangs onto that crash.
But priming memory can also be positive. For example, if a kid is shown the word “doctor,” and moments later they’re shown the words “nurse” and “coffee,” they are more likely to recognize the word “nurse” first, since it’s linked to “doctor.” They’ve already been primed. Priming memory is activated by exposure to something that’s relatable to something that’s already been experienced—which is very helpful in learning and development.
Classical Conditioning
Classical conditioning refers to a type of learning that happens when you are exposed to two stimuli, together, over time.
For example, you might hear a bell ring and know that school is out. When you hear the bell every day—and you’re given permission to get up to leave every time you hear that bell—you learn that the bell means school is over. You’ve been conditioned to pack up when the bell rings.
Another example of classical conditioning: Your parents always took the beach chairs out of the shed the night before you took a family trip to the beach. As a child, you got excited because seeing the beach chairs signaled that you got to go to the beach in the morning. You were conditioned to link the two.
Sleep and Nondeclarative Memory
Sleep is important for both nondeclarative and declarative memory. After all, the better sleep you get, the better your memory (of all types) becomes. On the contrary, the worse sleep you get, the worse off your memory becomes. Studies show that sleep disorders can take a toll on your memory.
Experts recommend that you get about seven to nine hours of sleep at night for healthy brain functioning. More sleep ultimately helps how well you absorb and retain information, both in the short- and long-term.
Best Ways to Preserve Your Nondeclarative Memory
Here are some tips to preserve your nondeclarative memory.
1. Eat nutritional brain foods.
Eating a healthy and balanced diet can help boost your brain power, including your memory. For example, Harvard researchers recommend foods like fatty fish, leafy greens and berries.
2. Practice mindfulness.
You can practice mindfulness in many ways. Meditation, for example, is one way to stay grounded and, in practicing meditation, you can enhance your brain functioning. Research shows that meditation is linked to increased attention and better short-term memory.
3. Move your body more.
A whole host of research suggests that exercise is good for the body and the brain. In fact, people who work out at higher frequencies don’t just have tighter abs or stronger arms; they also have sharper minds. Exercise is strongly linked to enhanced memory.
4. Lean on others for support.
We’re all human, and we forget things sometimes. It’s okay to ask others for help in reminding you about things. Maybe you need help remembering important dates or a study buddy to help you prepare for an upcoming exam. Talking out loud with another person can help you remember more because you verbalize those things and also create an experience around them.
5. Leverage memory tools.
There are tons of tools at your disposal to help boost your memory. The Dorothy memory app, for example, exists to help you learn and remember more. Dorothy learns when you should study something and then delivers it to you in a quiz.