Types of Long term memory

• What is some assumptions of Long term memory (LTM)

  • LTM is a multi part system made up of two or more components containing diff types of info
• What are the two types of LTM

  • Declarative memory (explicit)
  • Procedural memory (implicit
• What are the two types of declarative memory

  • Episodic memory
  • Semantic memory
• What is Episodic memory

  • Remembering personal events from life
  • Requires conscious effort to recall
  • Single episode can include people place and objects
  • Strength of memory depends on emotion present at time e.g traumatic event, high emotional content
  • Time stamped-remember exactly when it happened
• What is Semantic memory

  • Facts about the world and is always being added to (London is capital)
  • Conscious (explicit) recall
  • Knowledge base for everything you know-less personal, not time stamped
• What is procedural memory

  • Many formed early in life learning important motor skills e.g walk
  • Memory for action motor skills-implicit (unconscious)
  • Actions occur without having to recall how they happen
• Strength (diff stores for diff LTM)

  • Strength- Diff types of LTM occupy diff stores
  • Tulving-Brain scan studies-diff types of memory stgored in diff parts of brain
  • Ppts asked to perform memory tasks-also tasks requiring recall of semantic and episodic memories-also scanning brains with PET scans
  • Found episodic memory-prefrontal cortex more active
  • For semantic memories-posterior region of cortex was active
  • Therefore-increases validity of findings and theory of LTM
• Strength (real life)

  • Strength- Practical apps
  • Episodic memory- mostly affected by mild cognitive impairments-highlights benefits of differentiating between types of LTM
  • Bellville et al- Episodic memories could be improved in old people with mild cognitive impairment
  • Trained ppts performed better on test of E memory than control group (no training)
  • Strength- Knowing about diff stores of LTM-treatment programmes that targets type of memory that is weak and improves it improving lives of many
  • Therefore- gain understanding on LTM- useful + research into LTM is highly valuable
• Strength (clinical evidence)

  • Strength- Case study research for diff stores
  • Clive Wearing- viral infection- extensive brain damage
  • Lost declarative memory-couldn't remember wedding, still had procedural-could still play piano
  • One store damaged other unaffected
  • Shows LTM is not unitary-consists of diff types of memory and stores exist in diff parts of brain
  • Therefore this increases validity
• Weakness (extent to which they are distinct not clear)

  • Limitation- Extent that E memories and S memories are distinct-unclear
  • Researchers suggested- Episodic memories= gateway to form semantic
  • E.g semantic memories - clouds produce rain can originate from episodic memories-learning about clouds at school
  • Limitation- Suggests S memory and E memory are distinct, might not be distinct but semantic may be transformation of episodic
  • Not accounted for by LTM theory, means theory is incomplete