Memory : Types of long-term memory Flashcards
outline ‘episodic memory’
long-term memory store for personal events
includes memories of when events occurred and of the people, objects, places and behaviors involved
memories from this store have to be retrieved consciously and with effort
outline ‘semantic memory’
long-term memory store for our knowledge of the world
includes facts and our knowledge of what words and concepts mean
memories usually need to be recalled deliberately
define ‘procedural memory’
long-term memory store for knowledge of how to do things
includes our memories of learned skills
usually recall these memories without making conscious or deliberate effort
outline a strength [clinical evidence]
clinical evidence from cases of patient HM and Clive Wearing
findings:
episodic memory -> severely impaired
semantic memory -> unaffected
procedural memory -> intact
supports Tulving’s theory that different types of LTM exist - one store can be damaged but the others are unaffected
outline a limitation [conflicting research]
conflicting research findings linking types of LTM to areas of the brain
e.g. Buckner + Petersen (1996)
reviewed evidence regarding location of semantic and episodic memory
concluded semantic located in left side of prefrontal cortex and episodic on right
other research links left prefrontal cortex with encoding of episodic memories and right prefrontal cortex with episodic retrieval (Tulving et al. 1994)
challenges any neurophysiological evidence to support types of memory as there’s poor agreement on where each type is located.
outline a strength [real-world application]
assists psychologists to help people with memory problems
research shows memory loss experienced as people age is specific to episodic memory
Belleville et al. (2006)
devised intervention to improve episodic memories in older people
trained participants performed better on test of episodic memory after training than control group
shows distinguishing between types of LTM enables specific treatments to be developed
