Memory: Types of Long Term Memory Flashcards
What are the three LTM stores?
- episodic
- semantic
- procedural
What are the two types of long term memory and what do they mean?
- procedural - memories for doing things that are difficult to describe
- declarative - memories that are easily described (including episodic and semantic)
What is episodic memory?
the ability to recall events from our lives
Give examples of episodic memory:
- your 12th birthday
- what you did on holiday last summer
Explain how episodic memories are time stamped:
the memory is from a specific time (you can remember when it happened)
What are the three parts of episodic memory?
- the specific details
- the context
- the emotions
What do the specific details of episodic memory include?
- emotion
- location
- people (who was there)
- objects
- behaviours
Where are episodic memories coded and how does this provide context?
- the prefrontal cortex is associated with initial coding
- however memories are located in different parts of the brain and are connected together in the hippocampus
- this creates a memory of the whole event rather than separate memories
- this provides the context
How does emotion affect episodic memory?
the more intense the emotions at the time were, the greater the strength of the memory
this is why traumatic events are well remembered
Do we need to make a conscious effort to recall episodic memories?
yes
What is semantic memory?
stores facts and knowledge
Give examples of semantic memory:
- the capital of France is Paris
- 2+2 = 4
Is semantic memory time stamped?
no, as you do not remember exactly when you learnt the information
Do emotions affect semantic memory as much as episodic memory?
no, as semantic memory is less personal and more objective (so is less related to emotions)
Where are semantic memories coded?
in the frontal and temporal lobes but, like episodic memories, are stored in the hippocampus
What do the locations associated with the coding of semantic and episodic memories suggest?
both are coded in very similar parts of the brain, suggesting they are both declarative
What is procedural memory?
stores the knowledge of actions, skills, and how to do things, including muscle memory
it is non declarative
Give examples of procedural memory:
- how to ride a bike
- how to tie your shoelaces
What is muscle memory and how does it form?
- the ability to move in a particular way without thinking about it
- it requires repetition and practice to form
How are procedural memories non declarative?
- it is difficult to describe exactly how to do something (like describing how to breathe)
- it is easier to show than tell
Explain how and why procedural memories are automatic:
- we can recall them without conscious awareness or effort
- this is muscle memory (being able to move without consciously thinking about it)
- it would be time consuming and dangerous otherwise (e.g. needing to remember how to run away from a threat is dangerous)
Where are procedural memories coded and what does this suggest?
- coded in the neocortex, primar motor cortex, cerebellum, and prefrontal cortex
- is not associated with the hippocampus like semantic and episodic memories
- this suggests procedural memories are a different type of memory (non declarative)
What are we evaluating?
whether or not episodic, semantic, and procedural memory are types of LTM
Support for types of LTM: brain scans
- participants were asked to perform various memory tasks while their brains were scanned using PET scanners
- they found that episodic memories were recalled from the right side of the prefrontal cortex and that semantic memories were recalled from the left side of the prefrontal cortex
- this suggests that episodic and semantic memory are separate types of LTM
- ext: objectivity of brain scans
Support for types of LTM: practical applications for those with cognitive impairment
- episodic memory is most affected by mile cognitive impairment
- it has been demonstrated that training can improve episodic memory in those with mild cognitive impairment
- the point of psychology is to benefit society and so being able to distinguish between the different types of LTM means we can focus on treating loss of episodic memory
Weakness of types of LTM: case studies
- a lot of research support on the types of LTM are case studies
- e.g. case study on HM and Clive Wearing about amnesia (only their episodic memory was affected and not their semantic and procedural memory, suggesting they are separate types of LTM)
- case studies lack control, meaning we cannot prove memory works that way (lack of validity)
- case studies are highly specific to the individual, so there is no way to generalise the conclusions to everyone (as we do not know if memory works that way for everyone)
