Tulvings ‘gold’ memory study (1989)

• Aim:

  To find out where activity occurred in the brain when people were experiencing episodic and semantic memories
• Method:

  Used a PET scan that measured blood flow in different parts of the brain using gamma rays.

  Repeated measures design.

  Case study.

  Six volunteer.
• IV1:

  Four episodic trials - thought about personal experiences
• DV:

  Where the blood would flow while discussing the topic
• Results 1:

  There was a greater flow of blood towards the front of the brain (the posterior cortex)
• Conclusion:

  Memory has a biological basis, with semantic and episodic memories localised in different areas of the brain
• IV2:

  Four semantic trials - recalled historical facts
• Results 2:

  There was a greater flow of blood towards the back of the brain (the prosterior cortex)
• The evidence produced by Tulving is objective as it uses brain scans that are difficult to fake, unlike other psychological investigations where participants may not be behaving genuinely.
• Tulving's study produced unbiased evidence due to the use of brain scans.
• The sample used in Tulving's study was restricted to only six participants including Tulving, with differences in blood flow for episodic and semantic memories seen in only three participants.
• The results of Tulving's study were inclusive as they were seen in only three participants.
• There are different types of memory, including episodic and semantic memories, which can make it difficult to determine which type of memory is being studied.
• The evidence from Tulving's study was inconclusive due to the similarity between episodic and semantic memories.