memory 1.2

Question 1

what are the 3 types of ltm?

Answer 1

semantic

procedural

episodic

Question 2

what are semantic memories?

Answer 2

describe our memories of the world and the associated knowledge

e.g. an understanding of what words, themes and concepts mean

for example, the ability to use information

Question 3

what are episodic memories?

Answer 3

describes those memories which have some kind of personal meaning to us, alongside details as to when and how these events occurred, as well as the associated people and places

e.g. the memory of a wedding

Question 4

what are procedural memories?

Answer 4

describes our memories of learnt skills such as swimming or driving

Question 5

how are episodic memories recalled?

Answer 5

conciously

Question 6

how are semantic memories recalled?

Answer 6

conciously

Question 7

how are procedural memories recalled?

Answer 7

unconciously

Question 8

explain how Petersen et al.’s research supports different types of ltm

Answer 8

they demonstrated that semantic memories were recalled from the left prefrontal cortex, whereas episodic memories were recalled from the right prefrontal cortex

this supports the idea there are different types of ltm and also that they each have a different neurological basis because they are recalled from different parts of the brain

Question 9

explain how practical application supports different types of ltm

Answer 9

there is a practical application in being able to differentiate between different types of ltm

e.g. Belleville et al. notes that mild cognitive impairments most commonly affect episodic memories and so an increased understanding of episodic memory, alongside the differences between different types of ltm, may lead to improved, increasingly targeted treatments for mild cognitive impairments

Question 10

explain how Cohen and Squire’s ideas support different types of ltm

Answer 10

Cohen and Squire drew a distinction between declarative and non-declarative memories

declarative memories must be recalled consciously (i.e. episodic and semantic)

whilst nondeclarative memories may be recalled unconsciously (i.e. procedural)

however, this is a different
classification and organisation system as the one used by Tulving, suggesting that his depiction of
LTM is not entirely accurate

Question 11

explain how the cases of HM and Clive Wearing support the different types of ltm

Answer 11

The cases of HM and Clive Wearing show how one type of LTM may be impaired (episodic in their
cases), but the other types of LTM will be unaffected (i.e. procedural and semantic).

For example,
Clive Wearing was still able to skillfully play the piano and understand the concept of music
(procedural and semantic) but was unable to remember his wife visiting him 5 minutes previously
(episodic).

This gives strong support to the idea that different areas of the brain are involved in the
different types of LTM, and confirms the classification of different types of LTM as separate.