types of long term memory

Question 1

what is episodic memory?

Answer 1

• stores events/ episodes of our lives
  likened to a diary of daily happenings
  (like you breakfast this morning)

Question 2

what is episodic memory like?

Answer 2

• the memories are complex
• they’re time stamped so you know when the memory occurred
• include elements like people, places and objects
• have to make a conscious effort to recall them

Question 3

what is semantic memory?

Answer 3

• stores knowledge of the world like an encyclopaedia and dictionary
• includes knowledge of university applications and the taste of things

Question 4

what are semantic memories like?

Answer 4

• not time stamped so we don’t remember when we learnt the meaning of words
• is less personal and more the knowledge that we all share

Question 5

what is procedural memory?

Answer 5

• stores memories for actions and skills

memories of how we do things like driving a car or playing footballs

Question 6

what is procedural memory like?

Answer 6

• recall occurs without awareness or effort
• find it hard to explain these skills to others because they’re done unconsciously
• like riding a bike or changing gear in a car

Question 7

what is the case study of Clive wearing?

Answer 7

• infection damaged hippocampus so forgot music education but could still play
• could remember kids but not their names and recognised wife but greeted her as if she hadn’t seen her for ages
• shows some LTM is intact - they’re separate!!

Question 8

+ clinical studies (case studies)

Answer 8

• amnesia cases studies like HM and Wearing shows bad recollection of the past (episodic), but semantic memory like words and procedural like reading. music is ok
• shows there separate LTM stores

Question 9

+ Neuroimaging evidence

Answer 9

• Tulving (94) did brain scans of various brain taks using PET scanner
• episodic memory in the prefrontal cortex and semantic in the right prefrontal cortex
• shows there physical difference (follow up studies increase validity)

Question 10

+ real life application

Answer 10

• Belleville (06) found understating of episodic memory can help improve elderly mild cognitive impairment (before better in control group)
• specific treatment have been developed due to this