Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: semantic memory
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Psychology and cognitive science describe different types of memory systems in humans, each responsible for storing different kinds of information. Competitive exams often test whether you can distinguish between these memory types, such as semantic, episodic, and procedural memory. This question focuses on the type of memory that stores facts, meanings, concepts, and general knowledge about the world, which is vital for language use and understanding.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Human long term memory is often divided into explicit (declarative) and implicit (non declarative) memory. Declarative memory is further divided into semantic memory and episodic memory. Semantic memory stores facts, meanings, vocabulary, symbols, and abstract concepts. Episodic memory stores personal experiences tied to specific times and places. Procedural memory, an implicit form of memory, stores skills and habits like riding a bicycle. Since the question highlights general knowledge, language, and concepts, it is clearly pointing toward semantic memory, which is the specialised form of declarative memory responsible for such information.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note the key descriptors in the question: general knowledge, language, and concepts.
Step 2: Recall that procedural memory deals with how to perform actions and skills, not factual knowledge.
Step 3: Remember that episodic memory stores autobiographical events such as personal experiences and episodes of life.
Step 4: Know that semantic memory specifically handles meanings of words, factual information, and conceptual knowledge.
Step 5: Recognise that declarative memory is the broader category that includes both semantic and episodic memory, while the question asks for the specific component that matches the description.
Step 6: Therefore, identify semantic memory as the correct answer.
Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, think of examples: your knowledge that Delhi is the capital of India, that a triangle has three sides, or that a particular word has a certain meaning is stored in semantic memory. In contrast, remembering your last birthday party is episodic memory, and remembering how to drive a car is procedural memory. Since the question emphasises general knowledge and language, which clearly align with these semantic examples, semantic memory is the most appropriate choice. Declarative memories is too broad and does not specifically emphasise language and concepts alone.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
procedural memories: These are skill based memories for actions and habits, such as playing a musical instrument, and do not primarily store general knowledge and language.
declarative memories: This is an umbrella term that includes both semantic and episodic memory. It is not as specific as semantic memory for the information described in the question.
episodic memory: This stores personal life events linked with time and place, such as first day at school, not abstract facts or vocabulary.
Common Pitfalls:
Candidates often confuse semantic memory with declarative memory because semantic memory is one type of declarative memory. Another pitfall is mixing up episodic and semantic memory, since both are explicit. Students may also choose procedural memory if they think broadly of learned information without recalling the specific definitions. To avoid these mistakes, remember that semantic memory is about facts and meanings, episodic memory is about experiences, and procedural memory is about skills.
Final Answer:
General knowledge, language, and concepts are primarily stored in semantic memory.
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