Types of long-term memory - A-Level Psychology
Types of long-term memory
A major limitation of the MSM is its description of LTM as a single,unitary store.Endel Tulving (1985) proposed the idea that there are three LTM stores:episodic memory,semantic memory,procedural memory.
Episodic memory:
-A long term memory store of personal events e.g a diary.It retains memories of when events occurred and of the people,objects,places and behaviours involved.Memories from this store have to be retrieved consciously and with effort.
-it also refers to our ability to recall events from our lives.-memories are ‘time-stamped’
Semantic memory:
-A long term memory store for our knowledge of the worlds e.g facts,meaning of words,what concepts mean.
-These memories need to be recalled deliberately.
-memories aren’t ‘time-stamped’
-semantic knowledge is less personal ,it is a large collection of material which is constantly being added to.
Procedural memory:
-A long term memory store for our knowledge of how to do things, including our memories of learned skills.
-These memories can be recalled without making a conscious or deliberate effort.
Evaluation:
Clinical evidence-Case studies of HM and Clive Wearing
Their episodic memory was severely impaired due to amnesia.They struggle recalling past events but their semantic memory was somewhat unaffected e.g they still understood the meaning of words.Their procedural memories were also intact e.g they knew how to read.This evidence supports Tulving’s view about the different types of memory store in the LTM as when one store is damaged the others are unaffected,which also shows that they are stored in different parts of the brain.However clinical studies lack control of variables.
Neuroimaging evidence-there is evidence from brain scan studies that the different types of memory are stored in different parts of the brain.Tulving et al (1994) got their participants to complete memory tasks as their brains were being scanned using a PET scanner.It showed that episodic and semantic memories were both recalled from an area called the prefrontal cortex which is divided into two (left and right hemisphere).left -semantic memories.right-episodic memories.
The strength of this finding is that it conveys how there is physical evidence about the types of LTM.The validity of this finding has been supported by later studies.
Real life applications-Belleville et al(2006) studied how episodic memories could be improved in older people who had a mild cognitive impairment.Trained participants performed better in a test compared to a control group.
Declarative memory-Cohen and Squire(1980) disagree with the division of the LTM into three types.They argued that episodic and semantic memories are stored together in one LTM store (declarative memory).
The three types of long-term memory are episodic memory, semantic memory, and procedural memory.
Episodic memory is the type of long-term memory that involves remembering specific events, experiences, and personal details. It is often described as a mental diary or timeline of personal experiences.
Semantic memory is the type of long-term memory that involves remembering general knowledge, concepts, and facts that are not tied to a specific personal experience. It is often described as a mental encyclopedia of information.
Procedural memory is the type of long-term memory that involves remembering how to perform certain actions, skills, and tasks. It is often described as muscle memory, as it involves the formation of automatic habits and behaviors.
Long-term memories are formed through a process called consolidation, which involves the transfer of information from short-term memory to long-term memory.
Emotions can have a powerful impact on long-term memory, as emotionally charged events are often better remembered than neutral events. This is due to the amygdala, a brain structure that is involved in the processing of emotions and the formation of long-term memories.
Yes, long-term memories can be forgotten over time, especially if they are not retrieved or rehearsed regularly. However, some long-term memories may be more resistant to forgetting than others, depending on factors such as emotional intensity and personal significance.
Some techniques for improving long-term memory include repetition and rehearsal, elaboration and organization, visualization and mental imagery, and association and mnemonic devices.
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