Long-term Memory Types

Who developed the theory of different types of LTM?

Tulving.

Describe procedural memory.

• Implicit/non-declarative (unconscious) LTM role for knowing how to do things i.e. memory of motor skills

• Not time stamped

• V resistant to forgetting, non-autobiographical

- Practice influences strength

• Location: cerebellum & motor cortex 

What is semantic memory?

• Explicit/declarative (conscience), LTM role for storing general information about the world e.g. London is a capital city, general knowledge

• Not time stamped, not autobiographical

• Resistant to forgetting

- How deeply processed influences strength

• Location: temporal bias (hippocampus)

What is Episodic memory?

• Explicit/declarative LTM role storing information about events in life

• e.g. 1st day at school, birthday, wedding day

• Time stamped (stored with reference to time & place)

• Autobiographical (you’re apart of the memories)

• Easiest memory to forget

- level of emotion felt at time increases strength

• Location: temporal lobes (hippocampus)

Outline the case of HM in terms of different types of LTM.

PROCEDURE:

• Researchers asked him to draw within the lines of a shape with a mirror 10x a day for 3 days

• Counted how many mistakes he did

RESULTS:

• As his practice increased his lines improved, less mistakes even though he couldn’t recall practicing it

CONCLUSION:

• His episodic memory was damaged as he couldn’t recall practicing butt his procedural memory was still intact as his lines improved

• Case adds validity to the theory of the different types of LTM

Outline the case study of Clive Wearing in terms of different types of LTM.

• After a brain infection, Wearing’s procedural memory seemed intact (e.g. being able to dress himself & even play the piano)

• Episodic memory was severely damaged, couldn’t remember seeing a doctor, couldn’t remember a conversation he just had

Evaluation of Tulving’s theory of 3 types of LTM.

STRENGTHS:

• Clinical evidence/case studies: Clive wearing - amnesia & HM = hippocampus

• Neurological Evidence: Brain activity when doing certain tasks, shows physical reality to different types of LTM

WEAKNESSES:

• Case studies: are individuals/ small group so not representative of everyone, issue of individual differences = lack of generalisability because cases are unique