Types Of Ltm Flashcards
Who proposed that there are 3 ltm stores?
Tulving 1985
- realised the msm’s view of ltm was too simplistic and inflexible
What are the 3 ltm stores?
- Episodic
- Semantic
- Procedural
What are the 2 subdivisions of ltm?
- explicit/declarative = conscious, can be put into words
- implicit/non-declarative = unconscious, not easy to express in words
What ltm stores are explicit?
- episodic
- semantic
What ltm store is implicit?
Procedural
Episodic memory (explicit)
Ltm store that gives individuals an autobiographical record of personal experiences where you remember objects, places, people
Influenced by emotions present at the time a memory is coded
Time stamped
Recalled consciously
Episodic memory BRAIN PARTS
- prefrontal cortex
- temporal lobe
Prefrontal cortex
Helps control the highest levels of thinking and conscious functions
Temporal lobe
Identifying objects, understanding language, storing memories and plays a role in emotions
Semantic memory (explicit)
Contains all knowledge an individual has learned
Contains knowledge of concepts and facts that we all share (not personal)
NOT time stamped and always being added to
Recalled consciously
Semantic memory BRAIN PARTS
- hippocampus
- temporal lobe
Hippocampus
Involved in memory, learning and emotions
Forms new memories and organises them
Procedural memory (implicit)
Permits individuals to perform learned tasks with little conscious thought (unconsciously)
Non-declarative (difficult to explain in words)
Many procedural memories occur early in life (learning important motor skills)
Recalled unconsciously so people can simultaneously perform other tasks that require cognitive attention
Procedural memory BRAIN PARTS
- basal ganglia
- cerebellum
Basal ganglia
Associated with a variety of functions: motor control, cognitions and learning
Cerebellum
Helps with timing and coordination of movements
Strength - CASE STUDY EVIDENCE
P - episodic memory supported by case study evidence
E - clinical studies of amnesia (hm and Clive wearing) both had difficulty recalling events in the past but their semantic and procedural memories unaffected
I&D - idiographic approach
C - supports that there are different memory stores in ltm as 1 store can be damaged but the others are left unaffected
Counter argument - case studies are unreliable as they are unique cases and can’t be generalised
Strength - NEUROIMAGING EVIDENCE
P - evidence from brain scan studies showing different types of memory are stored in different parts of our brain
E - tulving et al got p’s to perform tasks while their brains were being scanned using a pet scanner. Found episodic and semantic memories are both recalled from prefrontal cortex
I&D - study of ltm adopts a nomothetic approach as it attempts to generate universal laws of cognitive processes including our diff types of ltms
C- shows a physical reality of the different ltm stores in our brain and this has been confirmed in many studies supporting its validity
Limitation - ARGUED TO ONLY BE 2 TYPES
P - has been argued there may only be 2 types of ltm instead of 3
E - cohen and squire argued episodic and semantic are stored together in 1 store called declarative memory
C - agreed procedural memory is distinctly different and is called non declarative memory
Limitation - PROBLEMS WITH CLINICAL EVIDENCE
P - problems with clinical evidence
E - evidence often based on clinical cases (hm, wearing) but there is a lack of control of different variables in these studies
I&D - case studies are socially sensitive research which is why hm’s identity was hidden until his death and its argued the same protection should have been extended to wearing
C - difficult to generalise from these case studies to determine the exact nature of ltm
