Long Term Memory Flashcards
What is Tulving’s main idea about LTM?
LTM is a MULTI-PART system made up of two or more components containing DIFFERENT types of information
What are Episodic memories?
They are MEMORIES from PERSONAL EXPERIENCES from our lives and are TIME STAMPED.
E.g wedding day
What does it mean by time stamped?
Meaning you remember when you learnt the memory.
How do you recall episodic memories?
It requires a conscious (EXPLICIT) effort to recall
What can a single episodic memory contain?
PEOPLE, PLACES, OBJECTS - all bound into one memory episode
What are Semantic Memories?
- FACTS
- Our knowledge base for everything we know
- These memories are always being added to
- E.g knowing that the capital of France is Paris
- Requires conscious effort to recall
- They are less personal
- Not time stamped
How do you recall semantic memories?
It requires a conscious (EXPLICIT) effort to recall this type of memory.
What are Procedural memories?
- Memories for ACTION MOTOR SKILLS.
- E.g riding a bike depends on a developed skill and is automatically accessed from the procedural memory.
- Actions occur without us needing to recall how they happen (e.g changing a gear on a bike)
- Many of these memories are formed early in life as early life involves the learning of IMPORTANT MOTOR SKILLS.
- They are often difficult to explain
How do you recall Procedural memories?
Can be recalled without conscious awareness (DO NOT SAY UNCONSCIOUSLY)
Which psychologist used neuro-imaging evidence to support the LTM?
Tulving et al
What did Tulving et al do?
He used brain scan studies to show that different types of memory are stored in different parts of the brain.
How did Tulving et al research their theories?
His participants were asked to perform various memory tasks, including tasks that required the recall of semantic and episodic memories, whilst their brains were being scammed using PET scans.
What did Tulving et al find?
EPISODIC MEMORIES - PREFRONTAL CORTEX was more active.
SEMANTIC MEMORIES, - the POSTERIOR REGION of the cortex was more active.
When EPISODIC MEMORIES were recalled, what part of the brain was more active?
The PREFRONTAL CORTEX was more active.
When participants recalled SEMANTIC MEMORIES, what part of the brain was more active?
The POSTERIOR REGION of the cortex was more active.
Why are Tulving’s findings a strength of the LTM?
This is a strength because it suggests that there are different types of LTM and that they are in SEPARATE STORES, evident from the PT scans which provide physical and objective evidence.
Further supporting research has confirmed many times that these brain areas are involved with different types of the long term memory.
These findings increase the validity of the long term memory theory.
What is episodic memory mostly affected by?
Mild cognitive impairments
Which psychologist demonstrated that episodic memories could be improved in older people who had a mild cognitive impairment?
Belleville et al
What did Belleville et al demonstrate?
That episodic memories could be improved in older people who had a mild cognitive impairment.
What did Belleville et al find?
The trained participants performed better on a test of episodic memory after training than the control group.
Why are Belleville’s findings a strength of the LTM?
This is a strength because by knowing about the separate stores of the LTM, which is what the theory provides, we are able to distinguish behavior between types of LTM and treat them accordingly.
Thus the understanding of there being different types of LTM presents high utility.
Moreover, as the treatment is effective, we can assume that the theory it is based on is valid.
This increases the validity of the long term memory theory.
What does the strength of the memory depend on?
The level of EMOTIONAL AROUSAL at the time it was CODED.
Why are traumatic events often recalled?
Due to high emotional arousal.
What is a weakness of the LTM?
Some researchers have suggested that episodic memories are a GATEWAY to forming semantic memories.
For example, semantic memories (facts such as clouds producing rain) can originate in episodic memories (events such as learning about clouds in school.)
The link between the two types of LTM is not accounted for by the theory of LTM, so therefore does not present a complete picture of the LTM.
