Types of LTM Memory

• 3 types of Long Term:

  • Episodic
  • Semantic
  • Procedural
• Conscious/Explicit:

  • episodic
  • semantic
• Unconscious/Implicit:

  • Procedural
• Episodic memory is concerned with your personal experiences

  e.g. recollection of your first day at school, a family holiday and playing with friends
• Episodic memory are time-stamped so you remember when they happened
• 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 for your memory of what happend
• 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.
• Semantic memory store contains knowledge of the world. For example the taste of an orange, 2+2=4, the meaning of words etc
• Semantic memories generally begin as episodic memories because we acquire knowledge based on personal experiences.
• The is a gradual transition from episodic to semantic memory where the memory slowly loses its association to particular events, therefore these memories are NOT time-stamped
• There is disagreement over which brain areas are involved in semantic LTM. Some evidence suggests involvement of the hippocampus.
• Procedural memory is concerned with skills, such as knowing how to tie a shoelace, knowing how to drive or knowing how to read. It is knowing HOW to do something.
• Procedural memories are typically acquired through repetition and practice. We can recall these memories without conscious awareness or a great deal of effort (e.g. we can change gear without having to recall how to)
• Procedural LTM is associated mi=mainly with the neocortex brain areas of primary motor cortex, cerebellum and pre-frontal cortex. Unlike explicit memory it does not need the hippocampus to function.
• Episodic Examples:

  • your friends wedding
  • your first date
  • the argument you had with your friend last week
  • your first day of school
  • what I watched on TV last night
• Semantic Examples:

  • where Eiffel tower is
  • who won the women's wimbledon final in 2014
  • the purpose of a piggy bank
  • the words of a song
  • your address
• Procedural Examples:

  • how to juggle
  • how to ride a bike
  • how to book a restaurant table
  • how to make a cake
  • how to use your phone to check a bill
• Implicit = non-declarative = Knowing how
• Explicit = declarative = Knowing what
• Tulving (1972) challenged the MSM suggesting that Ltm can be classified into 3 categories
• Procedural memory comes from the cerebellum and motor cortex
• Episodic and Semantic memory are in the pre-frontal cortex and the hippocampus
• Procedural memories are non-time stamped
• LTM has an unlimited capacity however it is hard to test as people often forget facts
• LTM has a duration of a lifetime however only some people are able to recall early childhood (before age 2) which is known as childhood amnesia
• Case Study - Clive Wettering:

  • Suffers from severe amnesia with a viral infection that attacked his brain
  • prior to this Clive could play the piano brilliantly and could conduct a choir but he can’t remember his musical education
  • He can remember some aspects of his life e.g. he can remember that he has children but cant remember their names
• Case Study - Clive Wettering - Evidence:

  • Supports the idea that there are 3 separate types of LTM as Clive’s procedural memory is intact but there is damage to his episodic memory
• Case Study - Clive Wettering:

  A viral infection attacked clive’s brain which damaged his hippocampus and associated areas
• Types of Amnesia:

  • Retrograde Amnesia
  • Anterogade Amnesia
• Retrograde Amnesia = Unable to access memories of events that happened in the past, prior to the injury or disease. They are generally able to remember meanings but not able to recall specific events
• Anterograde Amnesia = occurs when a person is unable to store and retain new information but is able to recall data and events that have happend previously
• PEEL Paragraph 1:

  Strength - Clincal evidence to support it - Clive Wettering has his procedural memory intact but his episodic memory was damaged
• PEEL Paragraph 2:

  Strength - RLA - With understanding of the types of LTM helps professionals treat patients with memory problems. Develops the understanding that episodic memory deteriorates overtime
• PEEL Paragraph 3:

  Weakness - there are problems with clinical evidence - can’t control variables in these studies (can’t control the precise location of the brain damage)
• PEEL Paragraph 4:

  Weakness - opposing studies - cohen and squire (1980)
• Cohen and Squire (1980):

  • Argued that episodic and semantic memories are stored together in one LTM store called declarative memory (memories which can consciously be recalled).
  • They agree that procedural memory is distinctly different to semantic/episodic
• Types of LTM Peel Paragraphs:

  1. Strength - Clive Wettering
  2. Strength - Real life Application
  3. Weakness - Problems with clinical evidence
  4. Weakness - Opposing studies