Here's why:
* Semantic memory is our long-term memory for general knowledge and concepts, including the meanings of words. When we recall a list of words, we often access the meaning of those words and store them in our semantic memory.
* Synonyms have similar meanings. So, when someone substitutes a synonym for a word on a list, they are demonstrating that they've retained the meaning of the original word, even if they can't recall the specific word itself.
Let's break it down further:
* Imagine you memorized a list with the words "happy," "joyful," and "sad."
* Later, when recalling the list, you might remember "happy" and "sad" but instead of "joyful," you might recall "cheerful."
* This substitution indicates that you accessed the concept of "joy" in your semantic memory, even if you didn't remember the precise word "joyful."
Other memory types:
* Episodic memory: This is our memory for personal experiences and events.
* Procedural memory: This is our memory for how to do things, like riding a bike or tying your shoes.
While these memory types can be involved in some aspects of recalling a word list, the substitution of synonyms is primarily a reflection of our semantic memory.