Long term memory

What is a major limitation of the MSM in describing long term memory?

The MSM describes LTM as a single, unitary store, but Tulving (1985) proposed that LTM consists of three distinct stores:

Episodic memory

Semantic memory

Procedural memory

What is episodic memory

A long term memory store of personal events (like a dairy)

Stores information about when events occurred, and people, objects, places and behaviours involved

Memories are ‘time-stamped’

Required conscious effort to recall

What is semantic memory?

A long term memory store for knowledge about the world (e.g. facts, meanings of words, concepts)

Memories aren’t ‘time-stamped’ (we don’t remember when we learned a fact)

What is procedural memory?

A long term memory store for learned skills (e.g. riding a bike, tying shoelaces)

Can be recalled without conscious or deliberate effort

Often hard to explain verbally

How do case studies of HM & Clive Wearing support Tulving’s view of LTM?

Episodic memory was severely impaired due to amnesia (couldn’t recall past events)

Semantic memory was somewhat intact (still understood the meaning of words)

Procedural memory remained functional (could still read, play piano)

Supports the idea that LTM stores are separate and located in different brain areas

Limitation: Clinical studies lack control over variables

What neuroimaging evidence supports different types of LTM?

Tulving et al. (1994) used PET scans while participants completed memory tasks.

Found that:
- Episodic memory is stored in the right prefrontal cortex

-Semantic memory is stored in the left prefrontal cortex

Strength: Physical evidence confirms different memory types, increasing validity

How has research on LTM been applied in real life?

Belleville et al. (2006) found that episodic memory can be improved in older adults with mild cognitive impairment

Trained participants performed better on episodic memeory tests than the control group

Strength: supports practical applications of LTM research

How did Cohen & Squire (1980) challenge Tulving’s LTM model?

Argued that episodic & semantic memories are stored together in one LTM store called declarative memory (memory that required conscious recall)

Believed only procedural memory was separate and non-declarative