Evaluation of types of long-term memory

Explain Episodic memory

• type of LTM storing episodes of events that happen throughout life

• e.g birthdays, trips, first kiss etc

• take conscious effect to recall

• are time stamped → when the event happened

• not exact events that happened as are constructed so prone to errors/illusions

Explain Semantic memory

• type of LTM recording facts, concepts, general knowledge

• knowledge that is shared so doesn’t involve personal experience

• not time stamped

• conscious effect to recall

• e.g types of food, capital cities, understanding maths etc

Explain procedural memory

• type of LTM of skills and how to do things

• unconscious so tasks carried out automatically

• acquired by practice + repetition

• composed of automatic behaviours deeply embedded so we aren’t aware of them

evaluate supporting biological evidence of types of LTM

-evidence suggests that using episodic memory uses different part of brain compared to when semantic memory is used

-Tulving injected himself, wife, and 4 p's with radioactive gold to track blood flow in brain using scanner whilst thinking about historical or childhood memories

-found 3/6 had increased blood flow to back of brain for historical facts but increased blood flow to front for childhood Memories

-suggests a biological basis to different types of memory in LTM supporting Tulvings model

-not reliable as only 50% p's + sample was too small so little representation

-hard to concentrate on 1 type of memory for 20 mins so reduces internal validity

Evaluate supporting case studies evidence for types of LTM

-evidence for distinct types of LTM from case studies of individuals with brain damage

-Clive Wearing had near total destruction of hippocampus so cannot store new episodic or semantic memory for more than a few seconds but is perfectly able to play piano, write, speak etc

-people with huntingdon's disease had to problems new facts and knowledge but had problems learning new motor skills

-findings strongly suggest that damage to specific areas leave the patient with problems with one or more type of LTM and so supports biological bias of separate LTM

Evaluate challenging research for types of LTM

-critics challenge need of distinguishing between all 3 types

-Cohen and Squire suggest sematic and episodic should be understood as same type called 'declarative memory'

-Kan et al did research showing interdependence between episodic and semantic memory showing that they relied on each other

-types of LTM is contested therefore Tulving's theory isn't reliable

Describe applications of Tulving model

-identification of types of LTM has led to targeting specific kinds of memory to help people

-Belleville et al demonstrated episodic memory can be improved by training in older patients