Types of LTM

• (AO1) Name the 3 types of LTM

  LTM can be divided into different types - Episodic, Semantic, Procedural
• (AO1) Define explicit and implicit memories

  Explicit (declarative) memories = include knowledge for events and factors (knowing THAT)

  Implicit (non-declarative) memories = are skilled behaviours, which are largely unconscious (knowing HOW)
• (AO1) Describe episodic memory and state what it is associated with

  Description: 

  1)Explicit + declarative

  2)Involves personal experiences and emotions that are timed-stamped

  3)The stronger the emotion felt within the event, the stronger the episodic memory 

  
  

  Associated with:

  Hippocampus 
• (AO1) Describe semantic memory and state what it is associated with

  Description:

  1)Explicit + declarative

  2)Stores knowledge for facts (e.g. knowing Stockholm is the capital of Sweden).

  3)It begins as episodic memory

  4)Stronger the emotions felt within the event, the stronger the semantic memory.

  
  

  Associated with:

  Temporal lobe
• (AO1) Describe procedural memory and state what it is associated with

  Description:

  1)Implicit + non-declarative

  2)Involves skills like riding a bike or swimming

  3)Acquired through repetition and practise

  4)These memories are mostly formed early in life

  5)It is difficult to explain procedural memories to others

  
  

  Associated with:

  Cerebellum and motor cortex
• (AO3) Give a strength of types of LTM regarding brain scans

  Point: Brain scans provide support for LTM

  
  

  Evidence: Research has shown that different parts of the brain are accessing episodic, sematic and procedural. Episodic = hippocampus, semantic = temporal lobe, procedural = cerebellum and motor cortex.

  
  

  Evaluate:

  Brain scan research suggests that different brain regions are responsible for different types of LTM = supporting the idea that our LTM is made up of at least 3 distinct categories.
• (AO3) Strength - patient HM: (distinction of I and E memory)

  Point: Patient HM

  
  

  Evidence: Severe epilepsy, removed hippocampus. STM intact. Unable to transfer certain types of info to LTM. Able to learn procedural (implicit) tasks, not episodic/semantic (explicit) information.

  
  

  Learnt mirror tracing tasks - copy image while looking into mirror and retain skill without forgetting. Had no knowledge of doing it.

  
  

  Evaluate: Demonstrated procedural memory through implicit behaviour, despite unable to recall experience explicitly = supports difference between I and E memory.
• (AO3) Strength - patient PM

  Point: Support for the distinction of implicit and explicit memory

  
  

  Evidence: Cellist = amnesia due to virus

  Like HM, explicit memory was affected, but his procedural memory for reading/performing music remained intact.

  
  

  Evaluate: PM demonstrates a clear distinction between different types of LTM
• (AO3) Give a counter point to patients HM and PM

  Although both HM+PM provide support for distinction between implicit/explicit, the evidence from the case studies must be treated with cation = cannot be generalised to wider population as they are case studies.