The Development of Implicit Memory

Abstract

Overall, the research findings presented in this chapter strongly suggest that implicit memory (“memory without awareness”) is largely distinct from explicit memory, operating through different processes in the brain. Whereas considerably age trends can be found for the development of explicit memory, developmental differences observed for implicit memory tend to be comparably small. Implicit memory begins to develop early in life, and most brain systems that mediate implicit memory processes are fully developed early in life, a finding that is in clear contrast to the continuous development of the explicit memory system.