episodic memory

episodic memory

1. Tulving divided LTM into semantic (general knowledge) and episodic (memory for personal events in time and place)

2. overlaps with autobiographical memory and so is important for sense of self

3. semantic / episodic memory described in words so are declarative (knowing that) as distinct from procedural (knowing how)

4. semantic / episodic distinction supported by clinical evidence

   • Vargha-Khadem reports case study of 3 children whose semantic memory was functional but episodic memory damaged (unable to remember days events, holidays etc)
     • suffered brain damage to hippocampus but temporal cortex intact
     • conversely (double dissociation) Hodges & Graham describe cases where temporal cortex but not hippocampus damaged - semantic memory impaired but episodic functioning
   • episodic memory particularly vulnerable to Alzheimer's which damages hippoocampus

5. semantic / episodic probably overlap

   • Conway et al argue that repeated episodic experience necessary for semantic representations to form

6. important in differentiating different aspects of LTM allowing links between different kinds of memory and areas of brain involved