types of long term memory

types of long term memory

1. Tulving 1985 proposed three stores containing different information

2. episodic memory

   • a memory store to recall events
   • a conscious effort is needed to recall the information
   • declarative memory- memory for facts, data, events
   • time stamped

3. semantic memory

   • memory store for our knowledge of the world
   • declarative
   • not time-stamped/ less personal

4. procedural memory

   • memory store of our motor skills
   • can be recalled without conscious effort
   • not declarative

5. cohen and squire

   • the distinction between declarative and procedural knowledge
   • procedural- knowing how and doesn't involve conscious thought
   • declarative - knowing how and involves a degree of conscious effort
   • people with amnesia have memories for events and knowledge from before the condition but can make new semantic or episodic memories and their procedural memories stayed intact

6. flashbulb memories

   • a vivid memory that is stored after one occasion (emotional memory) but can be lost over time

7. evaluation

   • clinical evidence
     • Moldison and wearing both had impaired episodic memory due to amnesia but heir semantic and procedural memories were intact. this supports tulvings view that here are different memory stores and one store can be affected but not the others. this evidence shows that types of memories are different and are stores in different areas
   • neuroimaging evidence
     • brain scan supports the existence of different types of memory that are stored in different areas. Tulving 1984 had participants perform memory tasks whilst taking a PET scan and found episodic and semantic memories were recalled from the prefrontal cortex (right/left). this is a strength as there is a physical reality to different types of LTM and the validity is supported by later research studies
   • real-life application
     • Belleville et al 2006 suggested episodic memories can be improved in old people with mild cognitive impairment. the participants were trained and performed better on episodic memory tests than the untrained. this then highlights the benefits of being able to distinguish between the types of LTM and specific treatments can be developed
   • are there 3 or 2 types
     • cohen and squire 1980 accepted that procedural memories but argue episodic and semantic memories are stored together in a declarative memory store. as procedural memories are non-declarative and so would need another memory store