Development of perceptual and conceptual memory in explicit and implicit memory systems

We examined the developmental trajectory of memory while accounting for both memory systems (explicit-implicit) and processing modes (conceptual-perceptual). Four memory tasks that are believed to reflect the four possible combinations of memory systems and processing modes were administered to 96 individuals in three age groups: mid-childhood, mid-adolescence and young-adulthood (mean age 7.7, 13.7 and 21.8, respectively). For perceptual processing, participants performed a Picture Fragment Identification task and a Pictorial Cued Recall task taping the implicit and explicit memory systems, respectively. For conceptual processing, participants performed Category Production and Category Cued Recall tasks taping the implicit and the explicit memory systems, respectively. The study revealed (1) robust maturation effects in the explicit memory system; (2) comparable performance levels for adolescents and adults in all but the explicit-conceptual task; and (3) more pronounced maturation effects for perceptual than for conceptual processing within the implicit memory system.