Which of the following is an example of implicit memory?

• A. Riding a bicycle
• B. Studying for an exam
• C. Remembering a phone number
• D. Recalling a specific event

Answer: (A)

Implicit memory refers to things we do automatically without conscious recall, like skilled actions. Riding a bicycle is a classic example because once learned, you can ride by instinct—pedaling, steering, and balancing largely without actively remembering the steps you were taught. This kind of memory is procedural and relies on brain systems such as the basal ganglia and cerebellum to support practiced motor performance, even if you can’t verbalize how you learned it.

The other options require conscious recall or description. Studying for an exam taps into explicit memory (facts and concepts you can state). Remembering a phone number is also explicit memory, often relying on working memory to hold and manipulate the number. Recalling a specific event is episodic memory, a type of explicit memory involving the conscious recollection of personal experiences.