Declarative memory plays an essential role during the early stages of skill acquisition, as motor learning initially relies on explicit instructions and conscious mediation before becoming automated.
The retrieved literature supports the claim that declarative memory is critically involved in early skill acquisition, particularly during the initial, deliberative stages of motor and cognitive learning before skills become proceduralized. Papers [1], [2], and [10] directly discuss or demonstrate the prominent role and engagement of explicit/declarative processes early in skill acquisition. No papers refute this relationship, leading to a SUPPORTED verdict.