types of ltm

• Tulving:

  • criticised MSM
  • proposed 3 types of LTM: procedural, episodic, semantic
• semantic memory:

  • general knowledge + concepts
  • not time stamped
  • requires conscious effort to recall
  • less vulnerable to distortion + forgetting than episodic
• episodic memory:

  • memory from events in our lives, time stamped
  • includes several elements
  • requires conscious effort to recall
  • more vulnerable to distortion or forgetting
• procedural memory:

  • memory for actions/skills - no conscious effort to recall
  • implicit + non declarative
  • becomes automatic with practice, difficult to explain
• EVALUATION: neurological evidence

  • brain scan studies - different types of memory stored, Tulving et al - perform various tasks whilst being scanned with PET scanner
  • semantic = left prefrontal cortex, episodic = right
  • physical reality to LTM stores, later confirmed, increased validity of findings
• EVALUATION: clinical evidence from amnesia studies

  • HM - normal semantic memory, impaired functioning in episodic memory
  • clive wearing - could play piano, couldnt remember having learnt to play - good procedural, impaired episodic
  • clear separation of types of LTM
• EVALUATION: problems with clinical evidence - difficult to form conclusion

  • lack of control variables - brain injuries were unexpected, no control of variables before or during surgery
  • no knowledge of individuals prior memories - cant determine severity
  • limits what studies tell us