a patient who has lost the ability to form new memories begins painting as part of an art therapy class. the patient attends biweekly painting classes over a period of three months. although the patient has no memory of the painting classes each week, their ability to paint has steadily improved over the course of the 3 months. what memory system can explain this result?
What memory system can explain this result?
Answer:
The memory system that can explain this result is procedural memory. Procedural memory is a type of long-term memory that involves learning and remembering how to perform certain motor skills and actions without conscious awareness or explicit memory of the events or experiences that led to the learning.
In the case of the patient attending the painting classes, even though they have no memory of the classes each week, their ability to paint has steadily improved over the course of three months. This suggests that their procedural memory is at play.
Procedural memory is responsible for acquiring and refining skills such as playing an instrument, riding a bicycle, or, in this case, painting. It is a type of implicit memory, which means that it operates on a subconscious level and does not require conscious effort or awareness to recall or execute the learned skill.
The patient’s improved painting ability indicates that the procedural memory system is intact, allowing them to retain and improve their painting skills over time, even though they are unable to consciously remember the individual painting classes or any explicit details about them.
It is worth noting that while the patient may not possess explicit memory of the painting classes, other memory systems that are impaired, such as episodic memory, may play a role in their inability to recall the specific events or experiences associated with the classes. However, the gradual improvement in their painting skills suggests that their procedural memory remains intact and continues to facilitate skill acquisition and refinement.