Episodic and Semantic Memory

Question 1

What is the episodic memory also know as?

Answer 1

The Mental Diary

Question 2

What does the episodic memory contain?

Answer 2

memories about events that have happened to us

Question 3

Is episodic memory linked to time and context?

Answer 3

Yes

Question 4

Can context help retrieve episodic memories?

Answer 4

Yes

Question 5

Does retrieval change episodic memories?

Answer 5

yes

Question 6

Can episodic memories be retrieved consciously?

Answer 6

Yes

Question 7

Does the episodic memory operate independantly?

Answer 7

No, it works with the semantic memory

Question 8

What is the semantic memory also know as?

Answer 8

The Mental Encyclopaedia

Question 9

What does the semantic memory contain?

Answer 9

Memories of words, facts, rules, meanings and concepts

Question 10

Is the semantic memory linked to time and context?

Answer 10

No

Question 11

Does context aid semantic memory retrieval?

Answer 11

No

Question 12

Does retrieval change semantic memories?

Answer 12

No

Question 13

Can semantic memories be retrieved consciously?

Answer 13

yes

Question 14

Does the semantic memory operate independantly?

Answer 14

Yes

Question 15

2 Strengths of Episodic and Semantic memory

Answer 15

Tulving - performed brain scans on 6 ppts and found when using their episodic memory the prefrontal lobes in the brain were active compared to when using semantic memory the back cortex was active.

HM and Clive Wearing both had brain damage that affected episodic memory but not semantic or procedural memory. Clive could still play piano.

Question 16

2 Weaknesses of Episodic and Semantic Memory

Answer 16

Squire and Zole - suggested that the medial temporal lobe is used for both episodic and semantic memory.

Tulving does suggest that episodic memory relies on semantic memory, which goes against his own theory that they are separate.