Types of long-term memory

• Types of long-term memory (LTM)

  Tulving (1985) was one of the first to realise MSM's view on LTM was too simplistic and inflexible. Proposed 3 stores.

  Episodic memory

  refers to our ability to recall events from our lives. E.g., last time you went to the dentist. These memories are complex: they are time stamped, your memory of a single episode will include several elements, you have to make a conscious effort to recall memories.
• Types of LTM 2

  Semantic memory

  Refers to memories that relate to our knowledge of the world. E.g., the capital of France is Paris. These memories are not time stamped, and are less personal (facts)
• Types of LTM 3

  Procedural memory

  Refers to our memory for actions, skills, or how we do things. Recall w/out conscious awareness or effort. E.g., driving a car. These are the sorts of skills that are difficult to explain.
• Types of LTM- evaluation

  Evidence supports Tulving's view that there are diff memory stores in LTM. Case study of HM and Clive Wearing: had amnesia

  episodic memory severely impaired (remembering events from past)- HM couldn't recall stroking a dog 30 mins ago

  semantic memory relatively unaffected (meanings of words)- HM didn't need concept of 'dog' explained to him over and over again. Procedural memories also intact- Clive Wearing could play piano.

  One store can be damaged but others unaffected, evidence that these types of memory are diff and stored in diff parts of brain.
• Types of LTM- evaluation 3

  Has real-life applications. Belleville et al. (2006) demonstrated that episodic memories could be improved in older people who had mild cognitive impairments. The trained ppts performed better in test of episodic memory than control group. Being able to identify diff aspects of LTM means specific treatments can be developed.
• Types of LTM- evaluation 2

  There is evidence from brain scan studies that different types of memory are stored in different parts of the brain. Tulving et al. (1994) had ppts perform various memory tasks while their brains were scanned using a PET scanner. Found that semantic memories were recalled from the left prefrontal cortex and episodic from the right. Supports the view that their is a physical reality to the different types of LTM. Has been confirmed by later research, further supporting the validity of this finding.