Types of LTM

• Introduction

  Tulving believed that one store for the LTM was too simple, and therefore believed that there were 3 LTM stores for different information
• Episodic memory

  • memory or events from your life. personal information
  • time stamped memories
  • declarative (as requires conscious thoughts)
  • for example, first day of school
• semantic memory

  • general world knowledge that humans have accumulated throughout lives.
  • knowledge shared with others
  • not time stamped
  • declaritive as requires conscious thoughts
  • for example, naming the six wives of Henry VIII.
• Procedural memory

  • muscle memory, remembering how to do something
  • usually acquired through repetition and practice
  • Non declarative and not time stamped
• evaluation 1- brain scans

  POINT- One strength is there’s supporting evidence from brain scans

  EVIDENCE- Tulving et al scanned individuals brains whilst they performed particular tasks. they found episodic memories were recalled in the right prefrontal cortex, whilst semantic from the left prefrontal cortex.

  EXPLAIN- This supports his claim that there are different stores for different memories. making it highly valid.
• evaluation 2- case studies

  POINT- LTM storage has different types, shown by case studies

  EVIDENCE- Clive Wearing, who suffered a viral infection that caused damage in his LTM, struggled to remember semantic and episodic memories. However he still remembered procedural memories (playing piano)

  EXPLAIN- This supports the claim that the LTM has different stores. As his procedural memory is still intact but his episodic is damaged. Making the claim more valid
• Evaluation 3- case studies really reliable?

  POINT- Most supporting research for different LTMs comes from case studie

  EVIDENCE- Case studies are an in depth study of an individual or small group who have typically had an unusual experience

  EXPLAIN- It’s difficult to generalise the results of a case study to the general population, as the cases may demonstrate unique results, which wouldn’t be seen in anyone other than the individual or group.