semantic memory
Definition
Noun: * Semantic Memory: A type of long-term memory that stores general knowledge, facts, concepts, meanings, and vocabulary about the world, independent of personal experience or the context in which the information was learned.
Usage
"Semantic memory" is a specific term used in psychology and cognitive science. It refers to the part of your memory system that holds impersonal, factual information. This contrasts with "episodic memory," which stores personal experiences and events.
Examples
- Knowing that Paris is the capital of France is stored in your semantic memory.
- Your semantic memory contains the meaning of the word "democracy."
- Recalling that a triangle has three sides relies on semantic memory.
- The fact that water boils at 100 degrees Celsius at sea level is part of semantic memory.
Advanced Usage
- Neuropsychology: Studies show that damage to certain brain regions, like the temporal lobes, can impair semantic memory while leaving other memory types relatively intact.
- Cognitive Models: In many models of memory, semantic memory is considered a structured network of interconnected concepts and facts.
Variants and Related Words
- Semantic (adjective): Relating to meaning in language or logic.
- Example: The semantic difference between "house" and "home" is subtle.
- Episodic Memory (noun): A related but distinct type of long-term memory for personally experienced events.
- Example: Remembering your first day of school is an episodic memory.
Synonyms
- Factual Memory
- Generic Memory
- Conceptual Knowledge
Related Phrases
- Semantic Network: A theoretical model representing the structure of semantic memory as an interconnected web of concepts.
- Semantic Dementia: A neurodegenerative condition characterized by the progressive loss of semantic memory.
Noun
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your memory for meanings and general (impersonal) facts
