Types of LTM

Created by

Sophia Kirkwood

Cards (9)

(AO1) Name the 3 types of LTM
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
2)Contains specific details of events, context and emotion (stemming from personal experiences) that are interwoven to produce a single memory
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
2)Starts off as episodic as we acquire knowledge based on our own personal experiences
3)Not associated with a particular event, relates to abstract concepts such as maths/language
4)Stronger the emotions felt within the event, the stronger the semantic memory.
5)Usually stronger than episodic as we retain this knowledge over a period of time.
Associated with:
Temporal lobe
(AO1) Describe procedural memory and state what it is associated with
Description:
1)Implicit
2)Acquired through repetition and practise
3)These memories are mostly formed early in life
4)It is important that they become like second nature to us so we can focus on important everyday tasks e.g. learning to walk
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.