2.1.3 explanation of LTM

Question 1

describe episodic memory

Answer 1

a long term memory store for PERSONAL events. it involved memories of when the events occurred and of the people, objects, places and behaviours involved

• it’s like a diary
• memories include details of an event, the context, and emotions associated with events
• it is time stamped and input it continuous
• consciously searched
• can re encode so can produce false memories
• retrieval using cues which are encoded at the point of learning

Question 2

describe semantic memory

Answer 2

a long term store for our knowledge of the world. this includes facts and our knowledge of what words and concepts mean

• like an encyclopaedia
• it is not time stamped and not cued retrieval (eg not sure when i learnt the word cat)
• conscious rehearsal
• fragmentary
• does not alter and is not changed through use and memory trace is robust
• retrieval is possible without learning

Question 3

describe procedural

Answer 3

a long term store for our knowledge of how to do things. this includes our memories of learned skills eg riding a bike

• needs a lot of repetition
• implicit meanings and we find them very difficult to explain
• automatic
• not time stamped
• little effort or no conscious thought
• fragmentary
• robust and can retain after forgetting

Question 4

What is a flashbulb memory

Answer 4

Detailed and vivid memory of an event which lasts a lifetime for example births and deaths. Usually emotional arousal when memories first encoded and it makes the memory particularly vivid

Question 5

How does HM support long-term memory

Answer 5

HM lost his memory on an operating table in a hospital in August 1953. He was 27 years old and had suffered from epileptic seizures for many years. The operation was successful and that is significantly reduced Henry seizures, but it left him with a dense memory loss. Up until then it had not been known that the hippocampus was essential for making memories, and that if we lose both of them we will suffer a global amnesia. Once this was realised the findings were widely publicised that this operation to remove the hippocampus would never be done again. HM‘s memory loss tended to be selective. His episodic memory was severely impaired as a consequence of his amnesia and he had great difficulty recalling events that had happened from his past. however his semantic memory and procedural memory was relatively unaffected. For example HM knew where the concept of a dog was but would not be able to recall stroking a dog half an hour earlier and he knew how to tie shoelaces

Question 6

evidence and evaluation of long-term memory by Tulving

Answer 6

clinical evidence: episodic memory impaired in HM. He had a difficulty recalling events that had happened in the past. But semantic memories were unaffected and procedural was also intact. However it could be that semantic and episodic rely on each other for example if you learn your partner cheats on you (episodic) you might trust them less (semantic)

Neuro imaging evidence: tulving 1994 got their participants to perform various tasks while their brains were scanned using a pet scan and they found that episodic and semantic were both recalled from an area of the brain known as the prefrontal cortex. this supports that there are different types of long-term memory. Damage to the temporal cortex of the brain seems to cause problems with both types of memory, suggesting they are located in the same place

Real life applications: psychologists can target certain kinds of memory in order to better peoples lives. belleville 2006 improved episodic memory and old people with mild cognitive impairment. Being able to distinguish between types of long-term memory allowed specific treatment to be developed. However findings from case studies cannot always be so readily generalisable