<p>This <a href="http://www.instructionaldesign.org/theories/act.html" rel="noreferrer">article</a> explains the difference :</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><strong>Declarative memory</strong> takes the form of a semantic net linking
  propositions, images, and sequences by associations.</p>
  
  <p>The nodes of long-term memory all have some degree of activation and
  <strong>working memory</strong> is that part of long-term memory that is most highly
  activated.</p>
</blockquote>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Hyfko.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Hyfko.png" alt="ACT-R Model"></a></p>

<p>The declarative memory is all knowledge that can be retrieved in consciousness. Working memory activates only the declarative memory needed for the current task.  </p>

<p>When a different task is given, the activation changes to match the needs of the new task. The non-relevant active knowledge is deactivated, and new relevant knowledge is retrieved.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-29T17:27:33.980Z
2015-10-29T17:33:23.870Z
2015-10-29T17:33:23.870Z
DesignerAnalyst
<p>I'm currently studying PRIMs within the context of ACT-R by reading these <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212683X14000206" rel="noreferrer">two</a> <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23750831" rel="noreferrer">papers</a>. In the papers, there are references to both declarative and working memory modules of ACT-R. What is the difference between these memory modules? Is the only difference the allowed operations on this memory and thus their use? Are there also decay effects in working memory?</p>

<memory><cognitive-modeling><working-memory><act-r>
In ACT-R difference between declarative and working memory
Seanny123
# In ACT-R difference between declarative and working memory

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-10-29)

I'm currently studying PRIMs within the context of ACT-R by reading these [two](http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212683X14000206) [papers](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23750831). In the papers, there are references to both declarative and working memory modules of ACT-R. What is the difference between these memory modules? Is the only difference the allowed operations on this memory and thus their use? Are there also decay effects in working memory?

**Tags:** memory, cognitive-modeling, working-memory, act-r


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-10-29. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

This [article](http://www.instructionaldesign.org/theories/act.html) explains the difference :

> **Declarative memory** takes the form of a semantic net linking
> propositions, images, and sequences by associations.
>
> The nodes of long-term memory all have some degree of activation and
> **working memory** is that part of long-term memory that is most highly
> activated.

[![ACT-R Model](https://i.sstatic.net/Hyfko.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/Hyfko.png)

The declarative memory is all knowledge that can be retrieved in consciousness. Working memory activates only the declarative memory needed for the current task.

When a different task is given, the activation changes to match the needs of the new task. The non-relevant active knowledge is deactivated, and new relevant knowledge is retrieved.


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