LTM

Question 1

What are the three types of LTM?

Answer 1

Semantic, Procedural, Episodic

Question 2

What is Semantic memory?

Answer 2

• Responsible for storing information about the world (meaning of words, general knowledge etc.)
• Not time stamped (we don’t usually remember when the facts were learnt)
• Involves conscious thought
• Strength positively associated with degree of processing during coding
• Sustained over time

Question 3

What is Procedural memory?

Answer 3

• knowing how to do things (e.g riding a bike)
• does not involve conscious thought (unconscious - automatic)
• not time stamped
• type of implicit memory as it allows performance of tasks with little conscious thought
• many learnt in early life (e.g walking)
• involved in language to use gramma and syntax

Question 4

What is Episodic memory?

Answer 4

• stores information about events (e.g marriage, 1st day at school)
• it involves little conscious thought
• is time stamped
• influenced by emotions (traumatic events recalled more easily due to high emotional content)
• strength affected by degree of processing the info at coding (time and attention)
• help distinguish between reality and delusions

Question 5

How does brain scan evidence support the different types of LTM?

Answer 5

• Tulving et al had participants conduct LTM tasks whilst scanning their brains
• Semantic tasks; left prefrontal cortex active
• Episodic tasks; right prefrontal cortex active
• if LTM was unitary store, would only see one part of brain active for LTM tasks

Question 6

How does the case of Clive Wearing support that LTM isn’t unitary?

Answer 6

• memory severely damaged by virus
• cannot remember episodic memories (wedding day)
• cannot remember semantic memories (where he lives)
• can remember procedural memories (how to play piano to a high standard)
• supports Tulvings idea of 3 separate LTMS as if LTM was unitary, all LTMs would be wiped not just certain ones

Question 7

What is a strength of the Clive Wearing study?

Answer 7

• sample size limited to one (atypical event)
• strength: contributed to understanding of memory processing
• strength: may generate hypothesis for future studies into memory
• this type of research method allowed psychology to study cases like CW into types of LTM which would otherwise not have been possible

Question 8

Give an example of a criticism of Tulving’s ideas.

Answer 8

• Cohen and Squire disagree; think 2 types of LTM, not 3
• semantic and episodic stored together in one store called declarative memory
• important as need to know how LTM structured to treat amnesiacs like CW with appropriate treatment