Retrospective memory

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Retrospective memory refers to remembering information from the past. It exists as a corollary to prospective memory (which refers to remembering to do something in the future), in that all other types of memory may be conceived as 'retrospective' memory. That is, recognition, episodic memory, procedural memory, declarative memory etc. can all be conceived of as retrospective.

Two clear nuances to this distinction are that episodic memory can sometimes be a memory of an imagining of a future time (Tulving's 'mental time travel'), and that prospective memory is said to have a retrospective component. That is, remembering that one has something to do in the future is 'prospective', but remembering what it is that one has to do is retrospective.