Types Of Long Term Memory - Tulving (1972)

What did Tulving (1972) challenge?

Tulving challenged the simplicity of the multistore model + suggested that there are 3 types of long-term memory: episodic, semantic and procedural.

What are the three types of long-term memory, branches of?

They are branches of ‘declarative memory’ and ‘non-declarative’ memory

Declarative memory: refers to knowing what, and knowledge of facts, events and concepts. (CONSCIOUS)

Non-declarative memory: refers to knowing how, refers to skills and related to procedural knowledge. (DOESN’T REQUIRE CONSCIOUS)

Describe episodic memory

• Memory of singular events that happened (like episodes of our lives if ykwim >B] )

• CONSCIOUS + TIME-STAMPED

• Interweaves senses, peoples, places, behaviours etc

• Associated with pre-frontal cortex (strengthening + storage) and hippocampus (making connections)

Describe semantic memory

• Knowledge of facts and information about the world (eg: remembering the capital of the Philippines)

• CONSCIOUS + NON TIME-STAMPED

• Holds immense amount of info that is constantly being added to

• Associated with the pre-frontal cortex (strengthening and storage) and hippocampus (making connections)

Describe procedural memory

• Memory of actions, skills and how to do things eg) riding a bike, playing the piano

• UNCONSCIOUS

• Associated with the cerebellum and motor cortex (movement)

Supporting evidence: describe Clive Wearing’s case study

• Clive Wearing had both retrograde amnesia and anterograde amnesia, damaging his hippocampus

• Clive was a world-class musician before he had amnesia —> can still play piano and conduct choirs but cannot remember his musical education

• Can remember only certain aspects of his life (eg: remembers he has children from earlier marriage but cannot remember their names)

• Recognises second wife, believes he hasn’t seen her in years even though she may have just left a few mins ago

What is retrograde amnesia?

A type of amnesia where the person cannot access memories of past events prior to the injury/disease causing the loss.

• Generally able to remember meaning / actual info

• Cannot recall specific events

What is anterograde amnesia?

A type of amnesia where a person cannot store or retain new information, but can recall previous events