Episodic memory

• Episodic memory - A long-term memory store for personal events. It includes memories of when the events occurred and of the people, objects, places and behaviours involved. Memories from this store have to be retrieved consciously and with effort
• Episodic memory:

  • Concerned with your personal experience
  • Eg: recollection of your first day at school, a family holiday, playing with friends etc
• Episodic memory:

  • They are 'time-stamped' - you remember when they happened
  • Eg: recently, last week, this morning
• Episodic memory:

  • You have to make a conscious effort to recall episodic memories
  • You may be able to do so quickly, but you are still aware you are searching your memory of what happened
• Episodic LTM: Brain area

  • The pre-frontal cortex brain area is associated with initial coding of episodic memories, with consolidation (strengthening) and storage of the memories associated with the neocortex
• Episodic LTM: Brain area

  • Memories of the different parts of an event are located in different visual, auditory, olfactory, etc areas of the brain, but are connected together in the hippocampus to create memory of an episode rather than remaining a collection of separate memories