Types Of Long-term Memory

Question 1

Who suggested that there were multiple LTM stores?

Answer 1

Tulving (1985)

Question 2

What are the different LTM stores?

Answer 2

Episodic, semantic and procedural memory

Question 3

Episodic memory

Answer 3

Our ability to recall events from our lives. These memories are time-stamped and related to other events in time. A conscious effort is made to recall these memories

Question 4

Semantic Memory

Answer 4

Our knowledge of the world (facts and concepts). These memories are less personal. A conscious effort is made to recall these memories

Question 5

Procedural Memory

Answer 5

Our knowledge of how to do things. Our actions become automatic through practice. These memories can be recalled without conscious effort

Question 6

Strengths of LTM

Answer 6

• PET brain scan evidence (eg. Tulving found different types of LTM activated different parts of the brain)
• Supportive case study evidence (eg. HM could still form new procedural memories but not episodic or semantic)
• Real world application (eg. Memory loss with age is linked to episodic memory, allowing specific treatments to be developed)

Question 7

Limitations of LTM

Answer 7

• Research suggests two stores, not three (eg. Cohen & Squire argue episodic and semantic are one unitary store)
• Conflicting neuroimaging evidence (eg. Semantic activated right prefrontal cortex, episodic activated right)
• Lacks temporal validity (eg. Tulving 2002 now suggests episodic memory is a subcategory of semantic as it’s not possible to have functioning episodic with a damaged semantic)