long term memory Flashcards
what is long term memory
stores information for lengthy periods of time. it has different kinds of stores - some are easier to access than others
what is the coding of LTM
semantic. memory is stored as part of a set of meaningful connections to other stored information.
what is the capacity of LTM
large, potentially unlimited. limit is not found. brains dont get completely full up with info and cant fit more. maybe we lose the ability to access some information. information can last for up to a lifetime but can be lost through decay and interference.
what is the duration of LTM
unlimited. we can still recall childhood events
what are the three types of long term memory
procedural, semantic and episodic
what is procedural memory
memories for motor skills and actions that are carried out in a certain order. it is responsible for knowing how to do things. it is an implicit form of LTM
is procedural memory declarative or non declarative
non declarative as it can be difficult to describe verbally and put into words. it does not involve conscious thought
why is procedural unavailable for conscious inspection
we carry out actions automatically without much awareness of the memory
what are episodic memories
refers to memories relating to a specific episode or event that happened in your life. they have a particular time and place. it is an explicit form of LTM
why are episodic memories autobiographical
its memories of personal events
are episodic memories declarative or non declarative
declarative as they can be easily described verbally and put into words.
can episodic memories be consciously inspected
yes because we usually have an awareness of the specific personal memory
give an example of where emotions affect how episodic memories are encoded
traumatic events are often remembered well due to emotional content
what are semantic memories
they relate to meaning and general knowledge about the world. they fact based memories for meaningful information and arent personal memories. they have no reference to time and place
are semantic memories declarative or non declarative
declarative
which are more resistant to forgetting and amnesia
procedural
what does research suggest about the location of LTM in the brain
different type of long term memory are located in different areas of the brain
where did Tulving get his data from
reported data from studies that use PET scans
what did Tulving ask participants to do
participants were asked to think of a specific memory whilst the blood flow in their brain was being monitored. when they thought of episodic memories a different part of the brain was being activated compared to when participants thought of semantic memories
where are the locations of episodic and semantic memory according to Tulving
episodic memories - right prefontal cortex
semantic memories - left prefontal cortex
what happened to patient HM
during childhood HM was involved in a bicycle accident which resulted in him developing epilepsy. many seizures he had experienced worsened due to the point where medication was having little impact and left him with no option but to do surgery.
what happened when HM had his hippocampus (part of his brain) removed
it reduced seizures but left him with problems with his memory. he had anterograde amnesia and had problems forming some type of LTM
what is the difference between anterograde and retrograde amnesia
anterograde amnesia - loss of ability to form new memories
retrograde amnesia - loss of ability to recall past memories
how did Brenda Miller study HM in 1957
she asked him to complete a procedural memory task (action movement). he had to trace lines in a star whilst only watching his hand movements in a mirror .
how did HM do
he performed poorly but over time as he did it again he got a lot better suggesting he had been able to form LTM for knowing how to do tasks. he was able to form procedural memories
even though HM was able to form procedural memories, what couldn’t HM do
each time he came to do the task he had no memory of ever having done it before. he had no episodic memories
what did Brenda Miller conclude about LTM
there are different types of LTM
what were the SPE memories according to HM’s case
Semantic - HM would forget the person he was talking to the moment he left
Episodic - he had no memories of time and place of ever having completed the task before
Procedural - he created new long term memories for the tracing line task as his ability improved
who was Clive Wearing (1985)
he was a highly skilled musician and conductor. he suffered a viral attack on his nervous system particularly his hippocampus and developed antrograde and retrograde amnesia. he could not recall many memories before 1985
what parts of LTM did CW have problems with
he had problems with his semantic and episodic memory. but his procedural memory was fine as he was still able to perform complex piano pieces
what were the SPE memories according to Clive Wearing’s case
semantic - he doesnt remember the names of his children
episodic - severely impaired lacking the ability to create new episodic memories
procedural - remains largely intact because of music ability
what were the similarities between HM and Clive Wearing’s case
both CW and HM had great difficult recalling events that happened to them in the past. but their semantic memories were relatively unaffected. their procedural memories were also intact
what are the limitations of the research into long term memory
research into the different types of LTM have typically been conducted on individual patients. the research into CW are highly detailed and provide a lot of information but are fundamentally isolated cases of one individual’s long term memory damage. this is a weakness because the findings cannot be generalised beyond the research. it would be inappropiate to assume that everyone’s LTM is formed in the same way based on evidence of two case studies. one person’s response may not be typical of everyone elses.
