Types Of Long Term Memory Flashcards
Define episodic memory and give examples.
Also known as declarative or explicit, it is our ability to recall events from our lives. For example, what we are for breakfast, a gig last month or a holiday last year.
Give some features of episodic memory.
- you make a conscious effort to recall meaning you know you’re searching for the memory
- you remember when they happened
- they include different parts woven together and these parts are located in different parts of the brain
- they are connected in the hippocampus to make the memory of an event rather than a collection of separate ones
- the memory can be strong or weak and is influenced by the emotions felt at the time and how deeply it was coded.
Describe research into episodic memories.
Clive wearing - a world class musician and conductor, got a virus in his hippocampus. He can still play piano and conduct a choir (procedural memories fine) but has problems recalling episodic memories like what he did earlier that day. He can recognise his wife but if she leaves the room he greets her like she’s been gone for a while.
Define semantic memory and give examples.
Also known as declarative or explicit memories, Refers to knowledge about the world. For example, what objects do, how to calculate a mean, the average age children start school in England, capital cities.
Give features of semantic memories.
- tend to begin as episodic memories because we acquire knowledge through experiences.
- semantic and episodic memories are similar in that a conscious effort is made to recall a semantic memory
- brain scans suggest that temporal and frontal lobes are active when processing or recalling semantic memories
Describe research into semantic memories.
Experiment on 1000 Swedish participants to investigate gender differences in semantic memory, butt found no difference in ability.
Define procedural memory and give examples.
Also known as implicit memory, these memories are concerned with skills, knowing how to do something. For example, riding a bike, playing a musical instrument, walking and speaking.
Give features of procedural memories.
- little conscious effort required to recall a procedural memory.
- individuals can perform learned tasks with little mental effort.
- associated with several areas of the brain including the cerebellum and primary motor cortex.
Describe research into procedural memories.
Animals were trained to complete a task then they were allowed to sleep, but their sleep was disrupted at particular sleep stages. It was found that disrupting R.E.M. sleep had a negative impact on procedural memory; when retested on the task the animals didn’t perform as well as a control group who could sleep without disruption.
Give 2 strengths of different types of LTM
Supporting evidence - brain scans show different parts of the brain are active when different LTM tasks are performed. Episodic = hippocampus, semantic = temporal and frontal lobes and procedural = motor cortex and cerebellum.
Case studies of brain damaged individuals suggest episodic ad semantic memories are different such as 8 year old who suffered brain damage when a tumour was removed, who struggle to create new episodic memories but could make semantic memories. Also Clive wearing.
Give a criticism of types on LTM.
Other researchers propose that episodic memories are needed to form semantic memories because we acquire knowledge based on personal experiences, hence these represent one type of LTM.
Give a practical application of types of LTM.
researchers found that people with mild cognitive impairment could be taught to have improved episodic memories. This means that identifying different types of LTM allows psychologists to have a positive impact on people w memory issues
