The main sub-division of LTM is into explicit (also known as declarative, as it's easy to put into words) and implicit (also known as non-declarative, as it's not easy to express into words) types
Explicit (declarative) LTM's:
Memories recalled only if consciously thought about
Easy to put into words
Implicit (non-declarative) LTM's:
Don't require conscious thought to be recalled
Not easy to express into words
Types of explicit LTM:
Semantic memories
Episodic memories
Types of implicit LTM:
Procedural memory
Explicit memories are often formed from several combined memories
Types of long term memory Evaluation: STRENGTHS
Clinicalevidence - Amnesiac patient Clive Wearing (musician) had difficulty with episodic memory, but semantic and procedural unaffected
Realworldapplication - Belleville (2006) improvedepisodic memories in older people, can target certain kinds of memories to improve lives, can develop treatments
Types of long term memory Evaluation: LIMITATIONS
Problems with clinical evidence - brain injuries by pps unexpected, so cannot control different variables so difficult to judge how much worse memory is, limits explanations
Conflicting neuroimagingevidence - Buckner and Peterson (1996) concluded semantic located in left side of prefrontal cortex and episodic on the right, Tulving (1994) found left prefrontal cortex linked with encoding of episodic and the right with episodic retrieval, challenging evidence due to poor agreement
