Types of LTM

Types of LTM

Tulving’s proposal that long-term memory is not unitary but made of separate stores for different kinds of information.

Episodic memory

A type of LTM for personal experiences and events, including context, emotions and details.

Nature of episodic memory

Episodic memories are time-stamped, consciously recalled and vulnerable to forgetting.

Semantic memory

A type of LTM for facts, knowledge and concepts about the world.

Nature of semantic memory

Semantic memories are not time-stamped and require conscious recall.

Procedural memory

A type of LTM for motor skills and actions such as riding a bike or typing.

Nature of procedural memory

Procedural memories are recalled without conscious effort and are resistant to forgetting.

Declarative memory

Memories that require conscious recall such as episodic and semantic memories.

Non-declarative memory

Memories that do not require conscious recall such as procedural memory.

Tulving’s evidence for multiple LTMs

Tulving’s PET scans showed episodic and semantic memories are recalled from different brain regions.

Brain area for episodic memory

Hippocampus and frontal lobes are associated with episodic memory retrieval.

Brain area for semantic memory

Temporal lobe regions are associated with factual knowledge retrieval.

Brain area for procedural memory

Cerebellum, motor cortex and basal ganglia responsible for motor skill learning.

HM case study and LTM

Patient HM could learn procedural tasks but could not form semantic or episodic LTMs, showing separate memory systems.

Clive Wearing case study

Clive Wearing lost episodic and semantic memory but retained procedural memory such as piano playing.

Double dissociation

Evidence showing one type of memory can be impaired while another remains intact.

Strength of LTM types model

Brain-scanning evidence supports the separation of episodic, semantic and procedural memories.

Strength: clinical case studies

Real-life amnesia cases consistently show separate LTM systems.

Strength: practical applications

Understanding LTM helps treat memory disorders by targeting specific types.

Limitation of LTM types model

Case studies such as HM and Clive Wearing are unique and lack generalisability.

Limitation: overlap between stores

Episodic and semantic memory can interact and sometimes overlap, challenging strict separation.

LTM interaction

Episodic memories may become semantic over time as knowledge is extracted.

Cohen and Squire’s argument

They suggested only two types of LTM: declarative (episodic + semantic) and non-declarative (procedural).

Evidence for semantic memory

Higher activation in temporal lobes during general knowledge tasks.

Evidence for procedural memory

Cerebellum activation during motor skills tasks supports procedural memory being separate.

Time-stamped memories

Episodic memories include when events occurred, unlike semantic or procedural memories.

Conscious recall

Episodic and semantic memories require conscious effort to retrieve; procedural memory does not.

Vulnerability to forgetting

Episodic memories are most fragile, semantic less fragile, and procedural most resistant to forgetting.

Role of emotion in episodic memory

Episodic memories often include emotional content which strengthens or weakens recall.

Personal relevance

Episodic memory is tied to personal experiences, making it distinct from semantic knowledge.

Retrieval cues in LTM

Episodic memories often rely on cues such as context or smell to trigger recall.

Semanticisation of episodic memory

Episodic memories gradually transform into semantic knowledge over time.

Neuroscientific support

PET and fMRI scans show different patterns of activation for different LTM types.

Role of hippocampus

Hippocampus is essential for forming new episodic memories but not necessary for procedural learning.

Amnesic memory patterns

Amnesia typically affects episodic and semantic memory but leaves procedural memory intact.