types of long term memory Flashcards
three types of long term memory
Episodic
Semantic
Procedural
who suggested there are three types
tulving
what is episodic memory
part of LTM that relates to experiences a person has had or events from their life, personal events
Visits to dentists, 16th birthday party
Explicit
Time stamped (you can remember when it happened), memories includes several elements (3W : what when where)
what is semantic memory
Common knowledge and facts, memories are often same for multiple people
25th is christmas day, sky is blue, what a car is
Explicit
Often likened to an encyclopedia, memory are not time-stamped so we do not know when they happened
what is procedural memory
Action, skills and how we do things
How to ride a bike, how to sing
Implicit
Skills that are quite hard to explain to to others
strength of long term memory
+ supporting evidence
- PET scan
Tulving et al got participants to perform various memory task while their brains are attached to a PET scanner
Found that episodic memories and semantic memories were recalled from a part of the brain known as the prefrontal cortex. Semantic memories were in the left hemisphere and episodic memories in the right. (left=semantic, right=episodic)
Supports the view that there are physical reality to different types of LTM within the brain
Being in different brain areas suggests that one can be damaged whilst the other stays intact, highlighting that they are separate.
Objective evidence –> more than one type of LTM
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+ real life example
Scoville and Milner investigated the patient HM
He had difficulties recalling his memories from the past (episodic) but semantic memory was relatively intact
Eg they could not remember stroking a dog half an hour ago but would know what a dog is
Procedural memory was still intact, they know how to tie their shoe laces…
This shows that there are three separate stores for long term memory as one can be damaged while the others remain unaffected
weakness of research into long term memory
-case studies
The Clive wearing and HM case studies could be criticised for having a lack of control over other extraneous variables during their tests
there are also methodological criticisms as the results or theory behind their memory loss may not be representative of others so non-generalisable.
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-contradicting evidene
Cohen and squire (1980) argued that semantic and episodic memories should be one single store called the declarative memory
Episodic and semantic both require conscious effort to recall
