Types of Long Term Memory

Question 1

What is the difference between episodic memory and semantic memory

Answer 1

• They are both Declarative,however episodic is time stamped, but you will not be able to recall when you learnt a semantic memory
• Both recalled consciously, so explicit
• Episodic is easy to forget
  Semantic is resistant to forgetting
• Episodic memory is stored across the brain connected by the hippocampus whilst semantic is stored in the parahippocampal cortex

Question 2

Define Declarative Memory

Answer 2

This type of memory encompasses both episodic and semantic memory, involving the conscious recall of information.

Question 3

Define Non-declarative Memory

Answer 3

This type of memory encompasses procedural memory, involving the unconscious storage and retrieval of skills and habits.

Question 4

Define Procedural Memory

Answer 4

This type of memory involves the storage and retrieval of skills and habits, such as riding a bike or playing the piano.

Question 5

Define Semantic Memory

Answer 5

This type of memory involves the storage and retrieval of general knowledge and information, such as facts and definitions.

Question 6

Define Episodic Memory

Answer 6

This type of memory involves the storage and retrieval of personal experiences and events, such as what you had for breakfast this morning or where you went on vacation last summer.

Question 7

Case study of clive wearing

Answer 7

Clive Wearing- Evidence for
Provides evidence that the LTM memory store is not unitary and is instead a multi-store. This is because he can not remember the some key events in his life e.g wedding day, or general knowledge like what the queen looks like. However he is still able to play the piano, suggesting that his procedural memory is still working.

Problems with clinical evidence Disadvantages of 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.

Question 8

Cohen and Squire-Three types of LTM or two

weakness

Answer 8

• They disagree with tulving and Argue that there are two long term memory stores rather than three
• They admit that episodic and semantic memory are very similar.
• They suggest that because both stores require a conscious effort to recall, they should be classed as one store declarative memory, and procedural memory should be known as non-declarative memory.

Question 9

Neuroimaging evidence PET scans Tulving et al (1994)

Strength

Answer 9

• There is evidence from Brain scan studies that different types of memory are stored in different parts of the brain.
• Tulving et al (1994) got their participants to perform various memory tasks during a PET scan.
• They found that episodic and semantic memory are located in the prefrontal cortex but on opposite sides. Semantic memory is on the left side whereas opposite is episodic memory, (the prefrontal cortex is divided in 2)
• This demonstrates that there is a physical difference between the memory stores
• The strength of this finding is that it supports the view that there is a physical reality to the idfferent types of LTM within the brain.
• It has also been comfirmed many times in later research studies further supporting the validity of this finding

Question 10

Real life application-

strength

Answer 10

• Being able to identify different aspects of LTM allows psychologists to target certain kinds of memory.
• Bellevile et al (2006) found that episodic memory in elderly can be improved by training.
• Knowing that there are three stores allows us to develop specific treatments.
• The theory can be applied to real life in order to aid others.