Question

Describe something you have learned that is now in your procedural memory. Discuss how you learned this information.

Short answer

An example of something learned that is now in your procedural memory is driving a car. You started by learning theoretically from a driver's manual, followed by guided practice sessions. After consistent practice and repetition, driving became an automatic skill stored in the procedural memory. The whole process of driving from starting the car, shifting gears, to following traffic rules, has become automatic and requires less conscious effort.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding Procedural Memory

Procedural memory involves remembering procedures and skills. It's a type of long-term memory that helps you to do things without conscious thought, such as riding a bike or tying a shoelace.

Identifying An Example

Choose an example of a skill or procedure you have learned. Let's take, for instance, the skill of driving a car.

Analyzing the Learning Process

Discuss how you learned to drive a car. This process usually starts with theoretical learning like studying a driver's manual, followed by practical learning where a learner practices to operate the car under the supervision of an experienced driver. Over time, through consistent practice, the steps in the process of driving a car become automatic and encoded in procedural memory.

Summarising The Event

Summarize the entire process of how you learned driving and how it became part of your procedural memory. Recall the first time you started learning and how it gradually turned into a skill set that is now automatic and requires less conscious effort to perform.

Key concepts

Skill Acquisition

Skill acquisition is all about how we develop the ability to perform specific tasks. This involves a combination of learning strategies and repetition. Whether it's playing an instrument or swimming, acquiring a skill usually comes in stages.
Initially, we rely heavily on conscious effort and guidance. At this stage, understanding the fundamentals is key. For example, when learning to drive, you first need to understand the functions of gears, pedals, and the steering wheel.
As you progress, your confidence and competence increase. The skill becomes more refined and less error-prone. With practice, this skill is gradually shifted to an unconscious level where it becomes efficient and requires less active cognitive control.

Long-Term Memory

Long-term memory is a vast and relatively permanent storage of information in the brain. It includes different subtypes such as explicit and implicit memory, with procedural memory being a part of implicit memory.
Information that makes it into long-term memory is stored for longer periods, often for life. This is where skills that require repeated practice become deeply ingrained. Techniques like repetition and meaningful organization of information can enhance long-term memory storage.
Returning to our example, the act of driving is stored as procedural memory within long-term memory. Over time and with regular use, the memory is reinforced, making it more durable and accessible.

Learning Processes

Learning processes are the methods and activities through which we gain knowledge or skills. This can take many forms, from formal education to informal practice.
Key elements often involved include

• Theoretical understanding: Establishing a knowledge base through resources like books or manuals.
• Practical application: Hands-on experiences where theories are put into practice.
• Feedback: Receiving and applying corrections to improve performance.

In learning to drive, you engage with all these elements. You begin with theory, progress to actual driving practice, and improve through feedback from instructors.

Automaticity

Automaticity is the ability to perform tasks without occupying the mind with the low-level details required, allowing it to become automatic. When a skill reaches this state, it means less cognitive load, freeing up mental resources.
Achieving automaticity involves consistent practice and usage of a skill until it can be performed with little conscious thought.
When driving becomes automatic, you no longer think about every single movement, such as checking mirrors or adjusting speed. Instead, these actions become second nature. Automaticity signifies mastery and is the result of effective learning and consistent practice.