Types of long term memory Flashcards
Researcher associated with types of LTM:
Endel Tulving (1985)
one of the first cognitive psychologists to realise MSM view of LTM was too simplistic.
Proposed 3 LTM stores, containing different types of information.
Episodic memory
LTM store for personal events (episodes).
Includes memories of when events occurred and of the people, objects, places and behaviours involved.
Examples of episodic memory
A doctor’s appointment, a lesson at school, breakfast that morning, going to your sports club.
Characteristics of episodic memory
- must be retrieved consciously and with effort. (might happen quickly, but still aware you are searching)
- memories are ‘time stamped’- so you remember when they happened.
- Single episode will include several elements, such as people and places, objects and behaviours, all of these are interwoven to produce a single memory.
Semantic memory
LTM store for knowledge of the world.
Includes facts (in a broad sense) and our knowledge of what words and concepts mean.
Examples of semantic memory
meanings of words, foods dogs can’t eat, the taste of strawberries.
Contains knowledge of a number of concepts such as animals, celebrities etc.
Characteristics of semantic memory
- need to be recalled deliberately
- not time-stamped- can’t recall when we learnt this
- less personal and more about facts we all share.
- also about more than facts- collection of material constantly being added to.
Procedural memory
LTM store for our knowledge of how to do things.
Includes our memories of learned skills.
Examples of procedural memory
driving a car, swimming, walking (these actions EVENTUALLY depend on procedural memory)
Characteristics of procedural memory
- recall these without making a conscious or deliberate effort
- skills we might find quite hard to explain to someone else- may make the task more difficult.
AO3: Supporting evidence through practical application
P- Research has shown practical application of Tulving’s types of long term memory, with a focus on episodic memory.
Ev- Belleville et al. (2006) showed that people who have mild cognitive impairment (MCI) can improve their performance on episodic memory following cognitive training.
Ex- As a result, this suggests that LTM is not a cohesive concept, and must contain multiple components due to the fact that an individual type can be improved in isolation- determining MSM’s perspective as a reductionist representation of LTM.
L- Therefore, this creates credibility in Tulving’s LTM theory, as it is supported by practical application from research evidence.
AO3: Supporting evidence (Tulving)
P- There is neuroimaging research that supports the concept of LTM being made of multiple components.
Ev- Tulving et al. (1994) carried out a meta-analysis of studies using the PET scan technique to investigate this, and found that, the left prefrontal cortex is involved in episodic memory coding and also semantic memory retrieval, and the right prefrontal cortex is involved in episodic memory retrieval and other coding resources.
Ex- This suggests LTM must have multiple components because only one area of the brain would be activated by these processes if LTM was just one component, but there are different areas involved in different memory processes.
CP for Tulving
P- The methodology of this study can be questioned.
Ev- Tulving et al. carried out a meta analysis to reach a conclusion, which means the research has been carried out by many different researchers.
Ex- This could suggest that standardization may not be consistent between the studies, as the experimental method or conditions may be different, meaning that the results may not be comparable.
L- This could weaken the research that provides supporting evidence for LTM theory, as there are methodological flaws, leading us to question the validity of the theory.
AO3: Clive Wearing case study
P- Real life examples of losing memory can support Tulving’s theory of LTM
Ev- This is shown by Clive Wearing as, after contracting viral encephalitis, he lost his episodic memory and couldn’t remember his personal experiences, whilst his semantic and procedural memory remained (he had knowledge about the world and could still play the piano)
Ex- This tells us that LTM must have several components as Clive ony suffered the damage of one type (episodic) whilst the others were unwavering as he could retrieve this information, highlighting that LTM is not one, cohesive concept
L- This determines that there must be more than one component of LTM, reinforcing the three types of LTM presented in Tulving’s theory
AO3: Alternative theory
Cohen and Squire (1980)
- claimed there were 2 LTM stores- declarative and non-declarative.
Declarative- episodic and semantic memories stored together (requires conscious recall)
Non-declarative- procedural memories (requires unconscious recall)
This suggests that Tulving’s LTM theory might not be the definitive explanation for LTM as the components presented can be explained in a different way (by conscious and unconscious recall), which may present inaccuracies in Tulving’s theory, as he does not acknowledge this organisation.
