A03 - Memory - Types Of Long-Term Memory Flashcards
A strength of the theory of three distinct LTM stores is that there is evidence from brain scans.
This research shows that different types of long-term memory are active when different areas of the brain are active.
Tulving et al (1994) asked his participants to complete memory tasks inside a PET scanner. In the prefrontal cortex, episodic and semantic memories were active. Episodic memories on the right, semantic memories on the left. Cerebellum is associated with procedural memory.
It provides evidence that supports the theory of different long term memory stores, but it’s only correlation all due to it being from brain scans.
On the other hand, Buckner and Peterson (1996) found that semantic was on the right and episodic in the left prefrontal cortex.
This can weaken the neurological evidence because there’s little agreement on the specific locations of these memories.
A strength of the theory of different LTM stores can be seen by case studies of patients with brain damage.
The case study of HM showed that after part of his hippocampus was removed, he could form new procedural memories but not semantic or episodic memories.
An example of this is how he got better at a mirror drawing task, but he couldn’t remember doing it. The fact that he learned the task was an episodic and semantic memory.
HM’s declarative memory was damaged, but his non-declarative memory was still intact. Therefore, this case study suggests there are different types of long-term memory; they are separate from each other.
On the other hand, due to this being an individual in a case study the results might not be able to be generalised to others because HM took epilepsy medication.
This could’ve meant his brain functions differently to other peoples’ brains.
A limitation of the theory is that some researchers believe there are only two stores of LTM and not three suggesting Tulving’s theory is not parsimonious, contravening the laws of science.
Cohen and Squire (1980) agreed that procedural memories are one type of long-term memory but argue that episodic memory and semantic memory are stored together.
Episodic and semantic memories were categorised as declarative memory, which are memories that can be recalled.
Procedural memories were referred to as non-declarative. It’s significant to understand the difference between memory types because it can affect how memory studies are carried out.
Furthermore, psychologists need accurate knowledge to help people who are suffering from amnesia.
Therefore, this evidence contradicts previous findings which challenges the theory of three long-term memory types.
A strength of the theory is that it has good real-world application as it allows psychologists to target specific memories to improve people’s lives.
Belleville et al (2006) established that episodic memories could be improved in older people who had a mild cognitive impairment.
The group who was ‘trained’ received episodic memory strategies and performed better on a test compared to the control group.
The type of memory which is most effected by mild cognitive impairment is episodic memory.
This highlights the benefit of being able to tell the difference between types of long-term memory because specific memories can be targeted in therapy.
This can help improve the quality of people’s lives with memory problems, which can help the early stages of people with Alzheimer’s disease.
