Tulvings LTM Flashcards
Models of memory=
Tulving’s LTM
Episodic memory
Episodic memory- Stores info about EVENTS EXPERIENCED IN OUR LIVES
(Who,what,where,when,why). Involves CONSCIOUS THOUGHT + is DECLARATIVE
Eg Memory of first day at school. EM= important for FUTURE SENSE OF IDENTITY, help remember PAST EVENTS,PREDICT FUTURE EVENTS,deciding what to do with RECALLED KNOWLEDGE.
Individuals= ‘actors’ in these events, EMOTIONAL +have entire CONTEXT surrounding the event ~ not just BARE FACTS
Thought to have EVOLVED from SEMANTIC MEMORY and RELIES ON THIS
EM- ENCODED through CUES + OVERLAP MEMORIES themselves which aid in retrieval
Memory failure= not about decay, FAILURE TO RETRIEVE
Models of memory=
Tulving’s LTM
Semantic memory
Semantic memory-Stores info about THE WORLD, STRUCTURED RECORD OF FACTS,meanings, concepts and KNOWLEDGE ABOUT EXTERNAL WORLD(knowledge about meanings of words + general knowledge).
Abstract, relational + associated with meaning of VERBAL SYMBOLS= ‘MENTAL THESAURUS
Involves CONSCIOUS THOUGHT + is DECLARATIVE
Eg London is the capital city of England- INDEPENDENT of personal experience, SPATIAL + TEMPORAL context knowledge was gained
Also includes info about OURSELVES eg no of siblings~ once had CONTEXT, but now STAND ALONE SIMPLE KNOWLEDGE.
Is often DERIVED from EPISODIC MEMORY, as we learn new facts/ concepts from EXPERIENCES
EPISODIC MEMORY- SUPPORTS + UNDERPINS semantic memory
There is a GRADUAL TRANSITION from episodic to semantic as we have REDUCED SENSITIVITY + ASSOCIATION= info becomes GENERALISED
Models of memory=
Tulving’s LTM
Key facts- Episodic Memory
Episodic Memory
Explanation- Memory of PERSONAL EVENTS, ‘mental diary’ of our LIFE EVENTS.
Encoding- PERCEPTIONALLY encoded, using all forms of encoding, stored in terms of TEMPORAL LINKS (when) + SPATIAL LINKS (where)
Retrieval- Using CUES which are encoded at point of learning, uses PRIOR KNOWLEDGE to access the memory
Forgetting- Due to RETRIEVAL CUE FAILURE, memories can have changed/distorted content, as LINKS TO PREVIOUS MEMORIES
Models of memory=
Tulving’s LTM
Key facts- Semantic memory
Semantic memory
Explanation- Knowledge + facts of what WORDS/SYMBOLS MEAN, ‘Mental encyclopaedia’
Encoding- ACOUSTIC encoding, not organise like episodic, can be ENCODED from EPISODIC MEMORY
Retrieval- Can occur without learning, UNDERSTANDING the RULES behind concept is enough, doesn’t RELY on cues, but can be used
Forgetting- Memory trace is STRONG + less SUSCEPTIBLE to TRANSFORMATION. Eg 2+2= 4 remains the SAME
Models of memory=
Tulving’s LTM
Referencing and retrieval
Time referencing- believed EPISODIC MEMORY was DEPENDENT on one referencing, memories of events experience linked to TIME THEY OCCURRED eg First time at school, to DATE the event occurred. SEMANTIC MEMORY is DETACHED from any TEMPORAL links, factual info recalled without TIME REF
Spatial referencing- Input into EPISODIC MEMORY is CONTINUOUS, as we experience a whole episode of some TEMPORAL FRAME OF REFERENCE eg birthday party. SEMANTIC MEMORY can be input in a FRAGMENTED way. Can piece together FACTUAL info that had be learnt at DIFFERENT POINTS IN TIME.
Retrieval- EPISODIC DEPENDS on CONTEXT of experience, will encode RETRIEVAL CUES from ENVIRONMENT (context) or EMOTIONAL (state). Present will have more detailed recall. SEMANTIC based on INFERENCE, GENERALISATION, RATIONAL + LOGICAL thought.
Models of Memory=
Tulving’s LTM
P.E.Ed Evaluation
Tulving’s theory of long term memory (LTM) states that there are two type of memory; episodic- memory of personal events and life experiences and semantic- factual memory of the world, such as meanings behind words. AO1 This account has been criticised as too descriptive; it is thought that although the theory states the two types of memories, it doesn’t offer any explanation as to why we develop such memories in this way. Therefore, it is limited as a theory, as it does little to aid our understanding of memory further than give definitions to the type of memories we can have. AO3
Models of Memory=
Tulving’s LTM
P.E.Ed Evaluation 2
Tulving’s theory however, is considered credible. There is strong neurological evidence which back up the idea that there is is two categories of memory which are encoded differently; episodic uses all types of encoding whereas semantic memories are encoded exclusively acoustically. AO1 Evidence has found that episodic memories seem to be effected when there is damage to areas such as the medial temporal lobe or prefrontal lobes, especially in the left hemisphere. This suggest there are different types of LTM which are stored and encoded differently, providing objective and scientific support of this theory. This demonstrates Tulving’s theory to be internally valid and so credible and trustworthy. AO3
Models of Memory=
Tulving’s LTM
P.E.Ed Evaluation 3
On the other hand we can argue this theory is low in validity, Tulving states that episodic and semantic memories rely on each other. Semantic memories are said to derive from episodic memories, where the context itself has reduced sensitivity and fails to be recalled and the information becomes generalised. Episodic memories have thought to evolved from semantic memory and it supports and underpin these memories. AO1 This makes it hard to verify that there are in fact two distinct different types of memory. Using a list of words to test semantic memory, could also be testing episodic memory also, so use of experimental evidence for these different memories is weakened as it is difficult to establish a distinction between the two memories. AO3
Models of Memory=
Tulving’s LTM
P.E.Ed Evaluation 4
Tulving’s theory overall has been found to have good application to society, which makes his theory useful. In eye witness testimony (EWT), we may be able to trigger retrieval of episodic memory of the events of a crime through cues, as Tulving claims episodic memory is encoded through these. Therefore, to gain a more in depth and detailed EWT, police could employ techniques such as reconstructions of the crime, identity parades or even going back to the crime scene itself to cue episodic memories in the EW. AO3
