tulving Flashcards
What did Tulving (1972) argue about Long Term Memory?
Tulving argued that LTM in the multi-store memory model was too simplistic and inflexible.
How many types of Long Term Memory systems did Tulving propose?
At least two types.
What are the two main types of LTM according to Tulving?
- Declarative (Explicit)
- Non-declarative (Implicit)
What is the focus of Declarative (Explicit) Long Term Memory?
Conscious recall.
What type of information does Semantic Memory contain?
Facts, general knowledge, language.
What type of information does Episodic Memory contain?
Personally experienced events.
What is an example of an Episodic Memory?
Holiday in Spain last year.
What is an example of a Semantic Memory?
The capital of France is Paris.
True or False: Endel Tulving proposed that long-term memory could be divided into Episodic and Semantic Memory.
True.
Fill in the blank: __________ Memory refers to remembered experiences.
Episodic
Fill in the blank: __________ Memory refers to remembered information about the world.
Semantic
List two examples of Episodic Memory.
- My first day at work
- Lunch with Karen last week
List two examples of Semantic Memory.
- There are 12 months in a year
- Everest is the highest mountain in the world
What did further research show about Long Term Memory?
Different types of LTM exist.
What does episodic memory refer to?
Our ability to recall events and episodes in our lives
It is described as a mental diary and record of daily life.
Why are episodic memories considered ‘autobiographical’?
Because you have personally experienced the events
Examples include personal events like weddings or school days.
What elements are included in a single episodic memory?
- People
- Places
- Objects
- Behaviours
These elements are interwoven to produce a single memory.
What is semantic memory?
Stores our knowledge about the world, including facts
It is referred to as a mental encyclopaedia and dictionary.
What role does semantic memory play in language?
It is necessary for us to learn language
It allows us to mentally represent things such as objects, people, and places.
According to Tulving, how does semantic memory differ from episodic memory in terms of susceptibility to distortion?
Semantic memory is less susceptible to distortion than episodic memory
This makes it more reliable for factual information.
How are semantic memories characterized in terms of time referencing?
They are not time stamped
You don’t have to remember where you were when you learned a fact.
What is the nature of stored memories in semantic memory?
Represents a mental encyclopaedia, storing words, facts, rules, meanings, and concepts
These are organized as an interconnected body of knowledge.
What is the nature of stored memories in episodic memory?
A mental diary, storing information about events or experiences tied to a time
The information is linked to a specific context.
How is factual information recalled in semantic memory?
Without linking it to when it was learned
For example, knowing Paris is the capital of France without remembering when you learned it.
How does episodic memory depend on time referencing?
Memories about events are linked to the time they happened
For instance, remembering your first day at school is linked to the date it occurred.
What are the four key differences Tulving argued between semantic and episodic memory?
- The nature of stored memories
- Time referencing
- The nature of retrieving or recalling memories
- The independence of each store
These differences highlight how each type of memory functions.
What does retrieval not depend on?
The context in which the information was learned
Retrieval can be based on inferences, generalization, and rational, logical thought.
How does retrieval affect the memory trace?
It leaves the memory trace relatively unchanged
This allows us to recall a fact without interfering with that knowledge.
Can semantic memory operate independently of episodic memory?
Yes
For example, we do not need to remember a classroom lesson about equations to use the equations learned.
What does retrieval depend on when it comes to episodic memory?
The context in which the event was initially learned or experienced
This involves mentally re-experiencing a moment in the past.
What happens to the memory trace when we retrieve information?
It changes and transforms in some way
This indicates a dynamic nature of memory retrieval.
Is episodic memory likely to operate without semantic memory?
No
We need to draw on previous knowledge of objects, people, and events to understand them.
What did Tulving suggest about the two memory systems?
They can be treated as separate stores
Despite the possibility of overlapping and the transformation of memory traces.
How does the memory trace behave in terms of robustness?
More robust and less susceptible to being changed
This contrasts with how memory traces can be transformed during retrieval.
What is a weakness of the Long Term Memory model?
Long-term memory may include more than semantic and episodic memories
Research suggests that Tulving’s explanation of LTM may be limited.
Who are two individuals that had brain damage affecting episodic memory but retained procedural memory?
H.M. and Clive Wearing
Both could remember how to perform tasks like playing the piano.
What type of memory includes personal experiences?
Episodic Memory
What type of memory includes general factual information?
Semantic Memory
What type of memory is described as knowing how to do things?
Procedural Memory
What did Tulving add to the Long Term Memory model in 1985?
Procedural memory
What methodology increases the scientific credibility of Tulving’s model of long-term memory?
Brain scanning techniques
Why may methods of testing semantic and episodic memory lack validity?
They cannot be studied in absolute isolation from one another
What is an example of how semantic and episodic memory can interact?
Learning a list of words can use both episodic and semantic features
What is a limitation of using case studies to understand long-term memory?
Lack control of variables and little knowledge about the person’s memory before damage
What practical application does Tulving’s model of long-term memory have?
Aiding memory recall
How can semantic knowledge be encoded for better recall according to Tulving’s model?
Using a mnemonic that attaches semantic knowledge into an imaginary story
What was the focus of Belleville et al (2006) in their research?
Improving episodic memories in older people with mild memory impairment
What was the outcome of the training program in Belleville et al (2006) compared to a control group?
Participants performed better on a test
