Types of long term memory

• Episodic:

  • memory of life events
  • info is stored with reference to time and place
  • memories can be expressed verbally (declarative)
  • memories are available for conscious inspection
• Semantic:

  • memory for facts/general knowledge rules of language
  • information is available for conscious inspection (it is expressed verbally/declarative)
• Procedural:

  • memory for motor skills, actions or muscle memories
  • memories aren't available for conscious inspection and are difficult to explain verbally
  • information is more resistant to forgetting/amnesia
• Evaluation of types of LTM:

  strength: brain scan studies show that different types of ltm are stored in different parts of the brain. Episodic and semantic are stored in the prefrontal cortex (semantic in the left, episodic in the right) whilst procedural involves the cerebellum and basal ganglia.
• Evaluation of types of LTM:

  strength: supported by case studies such as Clive Wearing. He lost all of his episodic and most of his semantic memory but not his procedural memory. This acts as evidence for the different types of ltm.