2.1.3 - Explanation of long term memory

Who gave the explanation?

Tulving

What was his main point?

Long Term Memory isnt a single store but has different systems

What were the two components and definition?

Episodic - memory of events and experiences like a mental diary

Semantic - memory of facts like a mental encyclopaedia

Procedural - skills and how to do things

Explain these tow components referencing, forgetting and retrieval?

Episodic:

Reference

• Time referencing linked to time and context

• There is a temporal link

Retrieval:

• Cues encoded during learning

Forgetting:

• Memory can change

• Retrieval cue failure

Semantic:

Referencing:

• Spatial Referencing

• Input is based in fragmented ways we can piece factual info together

Retrieval:

• Its possible without learning

• Not Cued

Forgetting

• Memory trace is more robust

• Less susceptible to change

What is the evidence for this theory?

Brain damaged patients where one store was affected whilst the other was still full functioning

Example:

• 10 year old boy that experienced anoxic episode his intelligence was still intact but suffered impairments to episodic/ semantic memory and still progressing education wise

What is the evidence against this theory?

• Cant describe the LTM as 2 separate stores since it doesn’t take into account the interrelationship between each system

What research did Tulving do to back his research?

Clinical Studies:

• Studied HM ( case study on next flashcard)

Lab Studies:

• PP were asked to recall personal events and factual knowledge

• Measured brain activity using PET scans

What was the main weakness of this research?

• Lacked ecological validity

• Memory was done in isolation and not real life interactions

Briefly explain HM case study?

• He had severe epilepsy which caused him to have a surgery to remove parts of his hippocampus which caused him to lose long episodic memories

• However he remembered old facts and could still learn new skills - showing semantic and procedural memory still in tact

• Showing us memory is stored in different parts of the brain

AO2 Exam Question: "Patient X can remember facts but not personal experiences. Explain which type of memory is affected and use research evidence."

AO1 -

Define key terms and who created this theory:

Semantic

Episodic

Procedural

AO2 - Application:

Can remember facts = semantic

Not personal Experiences = lacks episodic

Explain why:

• LTM are in different areas of memory use HM as evidence counts as AO3 asw

AO3 -

Strengths and Weaknesses