Episodic and Semantic Memory

Episodic memory

stores information about space and time

Autobiographical events

are stored in episodic memory

anterograde amnesia

inability to create new memories

semantic memory

stores facts and general knowledge

Associative visual agnosja

occurs with a disruption of semantic memory

implicit memory

motor skill learning

increase in a number of similar events

decreases episodic memories

increases semantic memories

memory phases

1. encoding

2. retainment

3. retrieval

prior knowledge connections

makes the memory of x better

disruption of consolidation by electroconvulsive shocks

works directly after training when the memory was still very vulnerable and elect

(ECT in pharmacological-resistant patients - depression)

proactive interference

old information hinders recall of new information

retroactive interference

new information hinders recall of old information

cryptomnesia

a person thinks his current thoughts are novel or original

source amnesia

remembering a fact or event, but attributing it to the wrong source

false memories

memories that never actually occurred

false memories in eyewitness testimonies

• Avoid showing witnesses pictures of suspects

• Avoid asking them to imagine missing details

hierarchical semantic networks

nodes of semantic information:

some easier to access