Types of LTM: episodic, semantic, procedural

Episodic memory

Memories linked to specific times and placed in our lives. They need to be consciously recollected

Semantic memory

Memories that contain knowledge of the world, facts and rules. Need to be consciously recollected

Procedural memory

Memories of how to do things. These do not need to be consciously recalled

Advantage: Case study evidence: Clive wearing

The case study of Clive wearing supports the idea of there being different memory stores. He struggled with his episodic memory but he could still do tasks that involved his procedural memory like playing piano.

Advantage: Case study evidence:HM

Scientists made HM draw a figure by looking at its reflection in the mirror. They found that he was able to form new implicit memories in contrast to his inability to form new explicit memories

Disadvantage: Three types of LTM or two?

Cohen and squire disagree with tulvings idea of there being three types of LTM. They argue that episodic and semantic memories are stored in one LTM store called declarative memory. They do agree that procedural memories represent one type of LTM

Disadvantage: Problems with clinical evidence

There are a serious lack of control of lots of variables that might impact our ability to generalise, such as the type of brain damage.

Advantage: real life application

Belleville et al found that episodic memory could be improved in older people who had mild cognitive impairment. She used a training technique and compared it to a group of people who didn't go through the training.