Chapter 7. Implicit body memory

The dichotomy between explicit and implicit memory systems or memory processes seems to be prominent in cognitive psychology literature. Recently it was discussed that this dichotomy is due to different measurement methods (Buchner & Jansen-Osmann 2006; Reder, Park & Kieffaber 2009) and does not provide directly evidence for two different processes or even systems. Graf and Schacter (1985) used the term “implicit memory” for describing a situation where a task performance is influenced by a prior experience without the necessity of becoming aware of that prior experience. In this sense, “implicit body memory” does not mean in any case unconsciousness. From a cognitive psychology point of view, it means that implicit measurements are used. In “classical” memory tasks implicit memory measurements are category production, word identification or word fragmentation. But what are the explicit and implicit measurements of body memory? It is the goal of this chapter to propose new insights in different measurements of body memory analogous to “classical” memory research.