Procedural memories are those implicit memories that our brains recall and use, even though we aren’t consciously aware of it happening. A great example of a procedural memory is how to ride a bicycle. When you’re on a bike, you don’t consciously think to yourself how to pedal, how to steer, or even how far to lean into a corner, but your brain does. And it recalls procedural memories you made when you were younger to do so.
Some other examples of procedural memories include how to type on a computer keyboard, how to play a musical instrument, or how to navigate your neighborhood. As with riding a bicycle, your brain recalls and uses this information without you being aware. This allows us to focus our conscious thoughts on more challenging or dynamic tasks.
In contrast, the other two general types of memory (semantic and episodic) are explicit — those memories that we are consciously aware of.