Types of LTM Flashcards
Strengths of Tulvings types of LTM: brain damaged patients.
This means that there is clinical evidence from case studies of brain damaged patients to suggest that LTM is made of separate types LTM.
Evidence for this comes from the case of Clive Wearing. He was a highly talented musician who contracted a viral infection causing brain damage. He lost his episodic memory but still has use of his procedural memory (he can still play the piano)
This supports the idea of different types of LTM because otherwise damage to LTM would have damaged all of LTM equally.
Weakness of Tulvings types of LTM: problems with brain damaged patients.
This means that, because cases of brain damaged patients are relatively rare, they may not represent the way memory functions in everyone.
For example, Clive Wearing’s LTM may function slightly differently to most other peoples LTM.
This is a problem because it suggests evidence from case studies such as this may not generalise to everyone, reducing the population validity of the research and limiting the extent to which we can draw conclusions about the types if LTM from this kind of research alone.
Strengths of Tulvings types of LTM: Physiological evidence from brain scans.
This means that PET scans have been able to show different types of the brain were active when participants were required to use different types of memory.
For example, Tulving et al (1994) found that episodic and semantic were recalled from different sides of the prefrontal cortex whilst procedural memory is associated with the cerebellum (which is involved in controlling fine motor skills).
This is positive as it supports the view that there are different types of LTM that may even be physically separate.
Weaknesses of Tulvings types of LTM: focusing on 3 types of LTM may ignore a 4th type.
This means research has identified another type of LTM called ‘priming’ which is where simplicity memories (ie memories we haven’t consciously recalled influence the responses a person makes to a stimulus.
For example, if a person is given a list of words including the word ‘yellow’ and is later asked to name a fruit, the probability that they will answer banana is greater than if they are not primed.
This is a problem for Tulving’s theory of 3 types of LTM as it suggests the LTM is more complex.
Strengths of Tulvings types of LTM: It has real life applications.
This means that being able to identify different aspects if LTM allows psychologists to target certain kinds of memory.
Belleville et al (2006) was able to develop memory training to specifically improve episodic memory as this is the type of LTM most often affected by mild cognitive impairment and found this was highly effective in improving the memory of older people.
This is a strength as it shows how a better understanding of types of LTM can improve peoples lives.
Who came up with the long term memory model?
Tulving 1985
What are episodic memories?
Personal experiences, events or episodes from a specific point in time. They are stored with reference to context (when and where etc) and emotion.
What are examples of episodic memories?
- 1st day of school
- Family holiday
How do we recall episodic memories?
Conscious recall.
May do it quickly but still aware.
What are semantic memories?
Factual knowledge of meaningful information that is shared by everyone. (capital cities or concepts in maths maths/ English language)
What are examples of semantic memories?
- London is the capital city of England
How do we recall semantic memories?
Conscious
What are procedural memories?
Memory of skills, actions or how things are done. Muscle based memory and cannot be stated easily. Automatic and can focus on other things whilst doing the skill.
What are examples of procedural memories?
- Tying shoelaces
- Riding a bike
- read
How do we recall procedural memories?
Don’t need a conscious or deliberate effort.
