A03

• A weakness is that there are some cross-overs between episodic and semantic memories

  -e.g. learning French at school is both semantic (understanding the language) and episodic (time-stamped to school experience)

  -This suggests the distinction might be more complex than originally proposed, meaning the model may be too simplistic.
• A weakness is that there is some evidence that priming may influence another kind of implicit memory.

  -Priming is when you're influenced by something you have seen or heard before even if you don't remember it happening.

  -It affects implicit memory-type of memory you use without realizing.

  -Research has shown that priming is controlled by a separate brain system.
• It has been proposed there is a fourth kind of LTM, known as perceptual-representation system (PRS).​

  -Spiers et al (2001) studied memory in 147 amnesia patients. In all cases procedural and PRS memories were intact, but the declarative(EXPLICIT) was affected.
• What is a strength Research support from case studies like Clive Wearing and HM shows that there are separate types of LTM.

  -Clive Wearing had damage to his episodic memory (he couldn’t remember events) but could still play the piano—his procedural memory was intact.

  -This shows that episodic and procedural memories are stored in different parts of the brain, supporting the idea of distinct LTM types.

  -This is a strength bc Real-life evidence, high ecological validity.
• Another strength is Neuroimaging studies provide biological support for different LTM stores.

  -Tulving et al. (1994) used PET scans and found that episodic and semantic memories activate different areas of the prefrontal cortex.

  -This supports the idea that LTM isn't unitary—it’s physically separated in the brain.

  -This provides objective, biological evidence that different types of LTM are located in distinct areas of the brain.
• A weakness is that However, there are issues with relying on case studies like HM or Clive Wearing.

  -These are unique individuals with specific types of brain damage, and their experiences may not be generalisable to the wider population.

  -Therefore, the findings may lack population validity.