Memory: types of long term memory

Question 1

Name the three types of long term memory

Answer 1

Procedural
Episodic
Semantic

Question 2

Describe Procedural memory

Answer 2

• Memory for motor (movement) skills and actions
• Memory for actions that are carried out in a certain order

Question 3

Features of procedural memory

Answer 3

• Non-declarative: Can be more difficult to describe verbally
• Unavailable for conscious inspection: Carry out actions automatically without awareness of memory
• More resistant to forgetting

Question 4

Describe episodic memory

Answer 4

Refers to memories relating to specific events (episodes) in your life

Question 5

Features of episodic memory

Answer 5

• Timestamped
• Declarative - easier to explain verbally
• Can be consciously examined - have an awareness of the specific, personal memory

Question 6

Describe semantic memory

Answer 6

Relates to meaning - fact based memories/meaningful information

Question 7

Features of semantic memory

Answer 7

• Not timestamped - cannot recall where we encoded the memory (not personal)
• Declarative - easy to describe in words

Question 8

Evaluation points

Answer 8

+ Tulving: PET scanning, episodic memories activate right prefrontal cortex, semantic activates left.

+ PT HM: hippocampus removed, could form new procedural memories but no episodic memories of doing the task before

+ Clive Wearing: procedural memories but no semantic memories + episodic only 30s capacity

• Case study evidence