M2 Memory - L7 Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

What are the different types of long term memory?

A

Episodic memory, semantic memory, procedural memory (ESP)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is episodic memory?

A

-memory for events

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Examples of episodic memories

A

recollection of your first day of school, a family holiday, your last birthday etc.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the three elements of episodic memories?

A
  • specific details of the event
  • the context of the event
  • the emotions you were feeling at the time of the event.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Where are episodic memories stored?

A

Hippocampus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the semantic memory?

A
  • memory for facts and general knowledge about the world
  • may also relate to the functions of objects -appropriate behaviour in certain situations
  • abstract concepts such as maths and language.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Examples of semantic memories

A

Capital of UK is london and 2+2=4

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How are semantic memories coded?

A
  • begin as episodic memories (acquire knowledge based on personal experiences) -gradual transition from episodic to semantic when memory slowly loses its association to particular events and is generalised.
  • but sometimes people can have a strong recollection of when and where they learned a particular fact.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Where are semantic memories stored?

A

Temporal lobe

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is procedural memory?

A
  • ‘muscle memory’
  • Motor skills and actions
  • seem to be more resistant to forgetting or amnesia than other types of LTM.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Examples of procedural memories

A

knowing how to tie your shoelaces, knowing how to drive, or knowing how to read

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How are procedural memories acquired?

A

through practise and repetition

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Why are procedural memories difficult to explain verbally?

A
  • Less aware of procedural memories- they become automatic and are unavailable for conscious inspection (unlike episodic memories and semantic memories)
  • this is why if you think about doing a procedural memory it prevents you from carrying them out
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Why is it important that procedural memories are automatic?

A

So we can focus our attention on other tasks while performing these everyday skills

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Where are procedural memories stored?

A

Cerebellum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Evaluation of LTM- strengths

A

+ Evidence for the distinction between episodic/semantic and procedural memory came from research on patients with amnesia-
Semantic, Episodic = unable to code new memories
Procedural= unaffected

+ Scientific evidence from brain scans supports the view that there are different types of LTM. E.g. when asking participants to recall different types of info, different areas of the brain are shown to be active on an fMRI.
Episodic = hippocampus
Semantic memories = temporal lobe and Procedural memories= cerebellum.

+ Case studies of brain damaged patients offer support for the different types of LTM. For example, Clive Wearing suffered from viral infection which damaged his hippocampus- has no episodic memory, cannot form new semantic memories. BUT, his procedural memory is intact (e.g. he can still play the piano).

17
Q

Evaluation of LTM - weakness

A
  • The findings cannot be generalised to the wider population:
    Research into the different types of LTM have typically been conducted on individual patients (e.g. Clive Wearing and HM) due to ethical concerns.
    Inappropriate to assume everyone’s’ LTM is formed in the same way.

-Evidence of gender differences in LTM, research on types of LTM cannot be generalized to all .
Herlitz et al (1997) assessed LTM abilities in 1,000 Swedish participants. Females = better on episodic tasks. No difference = in semantic LTM ability. Suggested that women may have stronger episodic memories due to their higher verbal abilities.

18
Q

Which stores are explicit and implicit?

A

Explicit- semantic, episodic

Implicit- procedural