explanation of long term memory Flashcards
what are the two types of long term memory?
- episodic memory
- semantic memory
what is our episodic memory?
a long-term memory system for PERSONAL EVENTS. it includes memory of when the events occurred and the people, objects and places involved. memories from this store have to be retrieved CONSCIOUSLY and with effort
what is our semantic memory?
a long term memory system for our knowledge ABOUT THE WORLD. this includes facts and our knowledge of what words and concepts mean. these memories usually need to be recalled deliberately
what are examples of episodic or autobiographical memories?
- most recent visit to the dentist
- class you had yesterday
- breakfast this morning
what are the key features of episodic memory?
- time-stamped
- includes several elements
- allows us to time-travel
what does it mean that memories are time stamped?
you remember WHEN they happened, recently or last week or this morning
- as well as storing the events, we store information about HOW they relate to each other in time
what does it mean that there are several elements?
the memory of a single episode includes several elements e.g. people and places, and all of them interwoven to produce a single memory
what does it mean that episodic memory allows us to time travel?
we can think back to past events and relive them because episodic memories have a subjective quality that no other memories have
- when we remember a past event, we do not remember the exact details but are aware of our PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
what is semantic memory likened to?
it is likened to a combination of an encyclopaedia and dictionary
what are the key features of semantic memory?
- necessary to use language
- allows us to mentally represent things
- are not time stamped
what does it mean for semantic memory to be necessary to use language?
semantic memory is necessary for us to use language as it stores organised knowledge of language and contains an impressive numbers and a range of concepts
what does it mean that semantic memory allows us to mentally represent things?
semantic memory allows us to mentally represent things that are not present
- Tulving says that semantic memory is less vulnerable to distortion and forgetting than episodic memory
what does it mean that semantic memories are not time-stamped?
semantic memories are not time-stamped as we do not remember when we first learned about donald trump
- semantic memories are less personal and more about facts
what is a strength of the distinction between episodic and semantic memories?
it is supported by evidence from a case study of HM
- HM’s episodic memory was severely impaired as a result of brain damage and found it difficult to recall events from his past but his semantic memory remained mostly unaffected.
what is the competing argument?
a major weakness of clinical studies is that they lack control variables. these studies involve people who have experienced brain damage which is usually unexpected.
- the researchers have little knowledge of the patients memory before
lack of control reduces the validity
what is a weakness of the two types of LTM?
some psychologists do not accept that episodic and semantic memories are entirely different.
- TULVING (2002) viewed episodic memory as a subcategory of semantic.
it is possible to have a fully functional semantic with a damaged episodic but not the other way around
how can you apply the distinction of the LTM?
Belleville et al (2006) worked with older people who had minor memory impairments
- the ppts undertook a training programme to improve their episodic memories.
compared with control group, ppts performed better on a test of episodic memory after the training
