Semantic definition example

Semantic memory refers to a portion of long-term memory that processes ideas and concepts that are not drawn from personal experience. Semantic memory includes things that are common knowledge, such as the names of colors, the sounds of letters, the capitals of countries and other basic facts acquired over a lifetime.

The concept of semantic memory is fairly new. It was introduced in 1972 as the result of collaboration between Endel Tulving of the University of Toronto and Wayne Donaldson of the University of New Brunswick on the impact of organization in human memory.

Tulving outlined the separate systems of conceptualization of episodic and semantic memory in his book, "Elements of Episodic Memory." He noted that semantic and episodic differ in how they operate and the types of information they process.

Before Tulving, human memory had not undergone many in-depth studies or research. Since then, a number of research projects have investigated the differences between semantic and episodic memory. Some of the most notable experiments relating to semantic memory were conducted by J.F. Kihlstrom in the 1980s to test hypnosis on semantic and episodic memory.

Semantic vs. episodic memory

Semantic memory is the recollection of facts gathered from the time we are young. They are indisputable nuggets of information not associated with emotion or personal experience.

Some examples of semantic memory:

• Knowing that grass is green
• Recalling that Washington, D.C., is the U.S. capital and Washington is a state
• Knowing how to use scissors
• Understanding how to put words together to form a sentence
• Recognizing the names of colors
• Remembering what a dog is
• Knowing how to use the phone
• Knowing that President John F. Kennedy was shot on Nov. 22, 1963

Episodic memory is specific to the individual. It is the recollection of biographical experiences and specific events in time in a serial form, from which we can reconstruct the actual events that took place at specific points in time in our lives.

Examples of episodic memory:

• Recalling where you were when Kennedy was shot
• Reminiscing about your first kiss
• Recalling your first day of school
• Knowing the name and breed of your first dog
• Remembering your wedding day
• Recalling the guests at your best friend’s 30th birthday party
• Knowing your lab partner in college chemistry class
• Remembering your first day on a new job

Moving from episodic to semantic memory

There is a steady movement of memories from episodic to semantic, especially during childhood when we are continuously learning new things. For example, learning how to use the phone may start out as an episodic memory of dialing a phone number on a toy telephone. That knowledge then becomes cemented in long-term memory.