Types of Long Term Memory

What are the three types of LTM?

1. Episodic

2. Semantic

3. Procedural

What are the categories for LTM?

Explicit and implicit

What is the difference between implicit and explicit memory?

· Explicit memory = ‘knowing that..’ knowledge (conscious)

· Implicit memory = ‘knowing how...’ knowledge (unconscious)

What is episodic memory?

Memory for personal events in an individual's life – they are time-stamped

What is procedural memory?

Memory for actions, tasks and skills

What semantic memory?

Memory for facts and knowledge shared by everyone

Outline a difference between episodic and procedural memory:

Episodic memory is explicit, whereas procedural memory is implicit.

State a similarity between episodic and semantic memory.

They are both explicit.

What does the case of Clive Wearing demonstrate?

It shows support for the different types of long term memory as he can remember how to play the piano but not his musical education.

Describe what happened to Clive Wearing:

Clive Wearing:

• Was at the height of his career as a world class musician and conductor when we contracted a viral infection

• The virus attacked his central nervous system which led to total amnesia due to damage to his hippocampus and associated areas

• He is unable to store new memories

• He lost his episodic memory → no memory of his wedding, cannot remember his musical education

• His procedural memory is still intact → can still play the piano