Long-term memory

• What are the two types of long term memory?

  • Explicit memory (unconscious)
  • Implicit memory (conscious)
• What is episodic memory?

  Memories of events
• What is some research supporting episodic memory?

  Herliz et al (1999) - females perform better than males in tasks using episodic LTM
• What are some weaknesses of episodic memory?

  • There is overlap
  • Maybe different styles of thinking are used. Episodic - emotional, semantic - objective
• What is semantic memory?

  Contains knowledge
• What is some research supporting semantic memory?

  Kroenig (2007) - tested Alzheimers and non-Alzheimer’s sufferers by getting them to decide whether a drawing was an invented creature called a ‘crutter’ or not, based on a rule or a picture.

  Found both were good at direct comparison but non-Alzheimer’s Ps did better with a rule, suggesting semantic memory uses different brain processes
• What are some strengths of semantic memory?

  • Damage to brain affects semantic memory abilities, supporting the idea that semantic memory abilities are spread through brain structures
  • May involve a network of links in different areas of the brain. Some links may be easier to access therefore easier to recall
• What did Endel Tulving do?

  Injected 6 volunteers with radioactive gold. This was scanned for its location. Ps were asked to think about a semantic or episodic memory.

  3 inconclusive. Greater activity in the anterior cortex in episodic memories, greater activation of the posterior cortex in semantic memories.
• What are some limitations of Tulvings study?

  • Him, his wife, and his colleague were participants, so researcher bias was present
  • Only 3/6 Ps showed results, so not generalisable
• What are some strengths of Tulvings study?

  • Successful use of neuroimaging means it is objective and replicable
• What is procedural LTM?

  • Implicit memory (unconscious)
  • Once we learn it we don’t have to consciously recall It
• What is some research supporting procedural LTM?

  Finke et al (2012) - 68 year old cellist suffered damage to brain which affected episodic and semantic memory. He couldn’t remember musical facts but could still read and play music
• What are some limitations of procedural memory?

  • Lack of research
  • Take longer to learn than implicit memories