Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Practice Exam

What type of memory is involved when recalling how to perform a learned task such as dressing?

1. Recent memory

2. Working memory

3. Implicit and procedural memory

4. Remote memory

The correct answer is: Implicit and procedural memory

Recalling how to perform a learned task, such as dressing, involves implicit and procedural memory. This type of memory is responsible for skills and actions that have been learned through repetition and practice, allowing individuals to carry out tasks automatically without conscious thought. Implicit memory refers to the unconscious recognition and retrieval of learned information, making it possible for a person to dress themselves without actively recalling the specific steps involved. Procedural memory, a subset of implicit memory, specifically handles motor skills and procedures, which aligns perfectly with the task of dressing. This type of memory enables individuals, even those with cognitive impairments, to perform basic daily activities effectively because these skills often become ingrained through habitual performance. In contrast, recent memory, working memory, and remote memory do not directly encompass the automaticity and skilled execution of learned motor tasks in the same way that implicit and procedural memory do.