Types of LTM

    Cards (5)

    • What are the three types of LTM?
      Episodic memory, semantic memory and procedural memory.
    • What is episodic memory?
      Our ability to recall events (episodes) from our lives e.g. last time you went to the dentist, your birthday, your breakfast this morning, etc. This memories are 'timed stamped' as you remember when they happened e.g. last night, last week, last month, etc. Your memory will include several elements people and places, objects, and behaviours. All of them interwoven to create a single memory. You have to make a conscious effort to recall episodic memories.
    • What is semantic memory?
      This store contains knowledge of the world but in a broad sense e.g. the taste of an orange, applying to university, concepts and the meaning of words. These memories are not time stamped - you do not remember when you learned that the capital of France is Paris. It is less personal and more about facts we all share which is constantly being added to.
    • What is procedural memory?
      This is our memory for actions, skills, and basically how we do things e.g. rising a bike. We can recall these memories without conscious awareness or a great deal of effort. We might find it quite difficult to explain the process of procedural recall e.g. trying to explain to someone what you are doing as you're driving a car.
    • What is a strength of Tulving's three LTM stores?
      Clive wearing who lost access to his memories due to a viral infection still had his procedural and semantic memory intact as he remembered how to play the piano, and understood the meaning of words where as his episodic memory was damaged as he could not remember his wife. This proves that the LTM isn't a single unitary store.
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