When most of us think about “memory,” we tend to think about how we can recall names, birthdays, phone numbers, or where we left our keys. But there is another kind of memory that works in the background every day. It helps you tie your shoes, drive a car, ride a bike, and type without having to think through every step.
This type of memory is called procedural memory.
You may not know the term, but you rely on procedural memory hundreds of times each day. In fact, many of the activities that make daily life possible would feel exhausting without it.
Understanding procedural memory helps people better understand how memory, in general, works, which can be especially useful when they notice memory changes in themselves or someone they love.
What Is Procedural Memory?
Procedural memory is also called your brain’s “how-to” memory.
It stores information about skills, habits, and actions that are done so often they are automatic. Instead of consciously thinking about each step, your brain handles the process in the background. For an easy example, think about riding a bike.
When you were first learning, you probably had to focus pretty hard on balancing, steering, pedaling, and braking. But after you master those skills, you don’t have to think about any of these details. You can just hop on a bicycle and ride – even if it’s been years since you rode.
That’s procedural memory at work.
Other Examples of Procedural Memory in Everyday Life
Walking
Walking may seem simple, but it involves a complex series of coordinated movements.
Most of us don’t think about how we place one foot in front of the other, adjust our balance, or navigate obstacles. Procedural memory allows these actions to happen automatically.
Tying Shoelaces
Few adults actually think about the steps involved in tying their shoes.
What once required careful attention as a child becomes routine.
Driving a Car
Driving is overwhelming at first.
New drivers must think about mirrors, pedals, steering, speed, and traffic signs. With experience, many of these actions become automatic.
Experienced drivers often arrive at their destination without remembering every detail of the drive because procedural memory has taken over much of the routine work.
Using Chopsticks
For someone learning to use chopsticks, every movement may require focus and concentration.
After enough practice, however, the skill becomes second nature.
Playing a Musical Instrument
Musicians rely heavily on procedural memory.
A pianist or violinist may perform complex pieces that involve thousands of individual movements without consciously planning each one.
Dancing
Dancers spend countless hours practicing routines until movements become automatic.
Procedural memory allows them to focus on expression and performance rather than remembering every step.
Playing Sports
Athletes depend on procedural memory every time they step onto the field, court, or track.
Examples include:
- Shooting a basketball
- Swinging a golf club
- Throwing a baseball
- Serving a tennis ball
- Kicking a soccer ball
Playing Video Games
Experienced gamers can react instantly to their screen.
The necessary button combinations and movements become deeply learned skills stored in procedural memory.
Reading
Many people are surprised to learn that reading involves procedural memory.
Recognizing letters, words, and processing language become automatic after years of practice.
Speaking
Talking is another activity we rarely think about.
The muscles involved perform highly coordinated movements that are guided largely by procedural memory.
Climbing Stairs
Most people climb stairs without consciously planning every movement.
The skill has become automatic through years of repetition.
What Makes Procedural Memory Different?
Procedural memory has several characteristics that make it unique. Its most important feature is that it operates without us being aware. Some call it subconscious or implicit memory.
It Lasts a Long Time
Procedural memories are remarkably durable.
People can retain certain skills for decades, even if they have not practiced them in years. This long-lasting quality is why procedural memory fascinates researchers. And, it’s good to know procedural memories are often the last to be affected by a cognitive disease, such as Alzheimer’s or other dementia.
It Can Be Hard to Explain
Have you ever tried to explain how to ride a bike? Many struggle describing every detail, even if they can perform the skill. This is because procedural memory is based on actions.
Your body often “knows” what to do even when finding the words is difficult because procedural memory is built through repetition.
The more often a skill is repeated, the stronger the brain’s pathways become. Over time, actions that once required concentration begin to feel effortless.
Is Procedural Memory the Same as Remembering Facts?
In simple terms, no.
Procedural memory is different from the types of memory used to consciously remember facts, events, or other information.
For example:
- Remembering factual information, such as the fact that there are 50 states in the U.S., or that Thanksgiving is always on a Thursday involves a memory system called semantic memory.
- Remembering details from your own life, such as the day your child was born or the day you got married involves a memory system called episodic (or autobiographical) memory.
- Subconsciously remembering how to ride a bike involves procedural memory.
Procedural memory focuses on how to do things, while other forms of memory focus on what you know or what you remember happening.
Interestingly, our memories are often composites of all of these types of memories. Our brain blends them together to form a cohesive memory.
Why Understanding Procedural Memory Matters
Many people assume all memory works the same. In reality, the brain contains several different memory systems that handle different kinds of information.
Understanding procedural memory can help people appreciate just how complex memory really is.
Many families tell us that learning about the different types of memory makes certain experiences easier to understand, and makes conversations less overwhelming.
If you are concerned about memory changes in yourself or someone you care about, learning about memory is often a helpful first step. While online information can provide useful background, it cannot replace a professional evaluation when symptoms are causing concern.
Next Steps
Procedural memory is the part of memory that helps us perform everyday skills without conscious effort. It helps us to walk, drive, type, brush our teeth, play sports, and carry out countless other activities that would otherwise require constant attention.
From tying shoelaces to playing the piano, procedural memory helps turn repeated actions into automatic habits.
Most of us rarely notice it working, but it quietly supports much of daily life. Understanding how procedural memory functions can provide valuable insight into the remarkable ways our brains learn, adapt, and remember.