Types of LTM

• LTM is either

  • Declarative
  • Non-declarative
• • Declarative memory means that the memory can be consciously recalled and put into words.
  • Such as Semantic and Episodic memory
• • Non-Declarative memory is memory that cannot be consciously recalled and is difficult to put into words.
  • Such as Procedural Memory
• Types of LTM

  • Semantic - declarative
  • Episodic - declarative
  • Procedural - Non-declarative
• Semantic memory

  • Facts, meanings, concepts, and knowledge about the word.
  • Eg. a bike has 2 wheels
  • Non-Declarative
• Episodic memory

  • Memory of experiences and specific events.
  • Eg. when you last rode a bike
  • Declarative
• Procedural Memory

  • Unconscious memory of skills
  • Also known as muscle memory
  • E.g Walking
  • Non-Declarative
• Differences and similarities.

  • Episodic and Semantic are Declarative, however procedural is non-declarative.
  • Episodic is time stamped as memory is stored in reference to time and place, however, you may not be able to recall when you learnt semantic memory, and procedural memory is usually learnt in childhood, therefore they are not time stamped.
  • Episodic and Semantic are recalled consciously however procedural is not.
  • episodic memory are the easiest to forget, semantic is resistant to forgetting, and procedural is very resistant to forgetting.
• Research Eval - A case study of Clive Wearing

  • CW has retrograde amnesia and cannot remember his musical education. (Episodic)
  • However, he remembers facts about his life (Semantic)
  • He can also play the piano (Procedural)
  • Also unable to encode new episodic or semantic memories due to anterograde amnesia, however, can gain new procedural memories.
  • Suggesting, semantic, episodic and procedural memory are separate processes.
• Eval - Clive Wearing

  • ideographic research meaning we can research memory in ways that aren't usually possible.
  • However, lacks generalizability as Clive had brain damage
• Eval - Cognitive neuroscience 


  The use of brain-scanning techniques has allowed researchers to study the brain and memory more scientifically.

  allowing ideas from ideographic case studies to be studied via nomothetic methods, allowing generalisations to be made.
• Eval - Distinction

  • The similarities suggest they may not actually be distinct.
  • Episodic and Semantic are both declarative.
  • Episodic becomes Semantic over time.