Types or long term memory

Question 1

Who established the 3 types of LTM and why?

Answer 1

Tulving- MSM was too simplistic and inflexible

Question 2

What are the 3 types of LTM?

Answer 2

• Episodic
• Semantic
• Procedural

Question 3

What is episodic memory?

Answer 3

Refers to our ability to recall events from our lives

Question 4

How are episodic memories created?

Answer 4

• Memories are time-stamped (store info about how events relate to each other)
• Memory of a single episode includes several elements (people, places, objects)
• A conscious effort is required to recall memories

Question 5

What is semantic memory?

Answer 5

Refers to our shared knowledge of the world

Question 6

How are semantic memories created?

Answer 6

• Memories are not time-stamped
• Semantic knowledge is less personal
• Less vulnerable to distortion and forgetting

Question 7

What is procedural memory?

Answer 7

Our memory for our actions and skills

Question 8

How are procedural memories created?

Answer 8

• Recall without conscious awareness or effort
• Our ability to do this becomes automatic

Question 9

What is the study of Clive Wearing?

Answer 9

• Experienced a brain infection (amnesia)
• Talented musician
• Procedural memory is intact (plays the piano)
• Episodic memories were poor

Question 10

What are the strengths of types of LTM research?

Answer 10

• Clinical evidence
• Real world application

Question 11

What are the limitations of types of LTM research?

Answer 11

• Clinical evidence lacks control over patients
• Conflicting neuroimaging evidence

Question 12

STRENGTH- Clinical evidence

Answer 12

I= evidence for types of LTM is provided by HM and Clive Wearing
D= episodic memory impaired in both men, but semantic memories were unaffected. Procedural memories intact (e.g: CW played piano)
E= supports Tulving’s view that there are 3 types of LTM- one can be damaged and others intact

Question 13

STRENGTH- Real-world application

Answer 13

I= understanding types of LTM allows psychologists to help people with memory problems
D= as people age, they experience memory loss. Research shows this to be specific to episodic memory. Belleville et al devised an intervention to improve episodic memory- trained participants performed better on an episodic test than a control group
E= shows distinguishing between types of LTM enables specific treatments to be developed

Question 14

LIMITATION- Clinical studies are not perfect

Answer 14

I=clinical studies lack variable control
D= brain injuries experienced were unexpected. Researcher had no control over variables before the injury. It is hard to judge how much worse memory is after
E= limits what clinical studies can tell us about different types of LTM

Question 15

LIMITATION- Conflicting neuroimaging evidence

Answer 15

I= there are conflicting research findings linking types of LTM to areas of the brain
D= Buckner and Peterson concluded semantic memory is located on the left side of the prefrontal cortex and episodic is on the right. Other research links left with episodic coding and right with episodic retrieval
E= challenges neuropsychological evidence to support types of LTM, due to poor agreement as to where each type is located