Memory: Types of LTM Flashcards
What are the 3 main types of LTM?
Episodic
Procedural
Semantic
What’s explicit memory?
knowing that…
What’s implicit memory?
Knowing how…
What is episodic memory?
Ability to recall events from our own lives + because they’re personal experiences you make a conscious effort to remember so it’s a declarative (explicit) memory.
What parts of the brain does episodic memory use?
The hippocampus located in the temporal lobes
What is a strength of the episodic memory?
The emotions felt at the time e.g. traumatic events are more likely to be recalled also how deeply the info was processed when coded.
What is semantic memory?
Knowledge about the world + is also declarative (explicit) as you have to make a conscious effort to recall it.
What parts of the brain does the semantic memory use?
temporal + frontal lobes
What is the procedural memory?
Memory for skills e.g. riding a bike so is procedural (implicit) so can perform skill with minimal mental effort.
What parts of the brain does the procedural memory use?
cerebellum + primary motor cortex.
What are the 4 AO3 points for types of LTM?
+Scientific evidence
+Research evidence
-Issues with using case studies as research evidence
-Priming and a 4th kind of LTM
(+AO3) What is the scientific evidence for types of LTM?
Brain scans supports the view that there are different types of long-term memory. For example, when asking participants to recall different types of information different areas of the brain are shown to be active. Episodic memories are associated with the hippocampus, semantic memories with the temporal lobe and procedural memories with the cerebellum. This is a strength because it provides objective evidence that different LTMS activate different areas of the brain which supports the idea that there are different types of long-term memories.
(+AO3) What is the research evidence for types of LTM?
HM case study. Investigated an individual whose hippocampus had been removed. Procedural memories could still be formed but not episodic or semantic. HM could learn how to draw, but not remember that he had learnt it. Therefore, supporting the distinction between implicit and explicit memory.
(-AO3) What are the issues with using case studies as research evidence?
Case studies have low population validity as they use unique individuals such as HM. It’s also difficult to identify the exact parts of the brain that have been affected until the patient had died and most studies are conducted with living patients. There could also be other reasons to explain Hm’s recovery such as brain plasticity. Therefore, supporting research needs to have more generalisable evidence.
(-AO3) Priming as a 4th kind of LTM
Priming describes influence of implicit memories on a person’s response to a stimulus e.g. given lists of words including the colour yellow —> individual is more likely to choose a banana as a fruit. This is automatic and unconscious but controlled by a separate brain system. Suggesting that there’s a 4th type of LTM thus also highlighting that the original theory may be too simple.
