What is semantic memory?
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Semantic memory is a type of memory that involves knowledge of the world, facts, and concepts that are not tied to personal experiences or specific events. Unlike episodic memory, which relates to personal experiences and events situated in a particular time and place, semantic memory is more about general knowledge and facts.
For instance, knowing that George Washington was the first president of the United States is a piece of semantic memory. You may not remember when or how you learned this fact, but you know it as a piece of information that can be applied universally and independently of a particular context 1.
Additionally, semantic memory helps in organizing the world into categories and understanding general properties of objects, such as knowing that a sheep has four legs and makes a sound like "baah" 2. This type of memory is crucial for our ability to use language, understand concepts, and interact with the world.
Experts like and highlight that semantic memory is abstract and not associated with personal experiences or specific times. For example, knowing that dogs are not fish is a semantic memory, as it is a fact learned without a specific personal episode tied to it 3.
In contrast, illustrated that episodic memory involves recollections of specific events or episodes, such as remembering a particular visit to San Francisco or a specific birthday party 4. Thus, while episodic memory forms unique, context-bound memories, semantic memory provides a stable knowledge base that helps us navigate and understand the world comprehensively.
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