long term memory Flashcards
what is long term memory
stores information for lengthy periods of time. it has different kinds of stores - some are easier to access than others
what is the coding of LTM
semantic. memory is stored as part of a set of meaningful connections to other stored information.
what is the capacity of LTM
large, potentially unlimited. limit is not found. brains dont get completely full up with info and cant fit more. maybe we lose the ability to access some information. information can last for up to a lifetime but can be lost through decay and interference.
what is the duration of LTM
unlimited. we can still recall childhood events
what are the three types of long term memory
procedural, semantic and episodic
what is procedural memory
memories for motor skills and actions that are carried out in a certain order. it is responsible for knowing how to do things. it is an implicit form of LTM
is procedural memory declarative or non declarative
non declarative as it can be difficult to describe verbally and put into words. it does not involve conscious thought
why is procedural unavailable for conscious inspection
we carry out actions automatically without much awareness of the memory
what are episodic memories
refers to memories relating to a specific episode or event that happened in your life. they have a particular time and place. it is an explicit form of LTM
why are episodic memories autobiographical
its memories of personal events
are episodic memories declarative or non declarative
declarative as they can be easily described verbally and put into words.
can episodic memories be consciously inspected
yes because we usually have an awareness of the specific personal memory
give an example of where emotions affect how episodic memories are encoded
traumatic events are often remembered well due to emotional content
what are semantic memories
they relate to meaning and general knowledge about the world. they fact based memories for meaningful information and arent personal memories. they have no reference to time and place
are semantic memories declarative or non declarative
declarative
which are more resistant to forgetting and amnesia
procedural
what does research suggest about the location of LTM in the brain
different type of long term memory are located in different areas of the brain
where did Tulving get his data from
reported data from studies that use PET scans
what did Tulving ask participants to do
participants were asked to think of a specific memory whilst the blood flow in their brain was being monitored. when they thought of episodic memories a different part of the brain was being activated compared to when participants thought of semantic memories
where are the locations of episodic and semantic memory according to Tulving
episodic memories - right prefontal cortex
semantic memories - left prefontal cortex
what happened to patient HM
during childhood HM was involved in a bicycle accident which resulted in him developing epilepsy. many seizures he had experienced worsened due to the point where medication was having little impact and left him with no option but to do surgery.
what happened when HM had his hippocampus (part of his brain) removed
it reduced seizures but left him with problems with his memory. he had anterograde amnesia and had problems forming some type of LTM
what is the difference between anterograde and retrograde amnesia
anterograde amnesia - loss of ability to form new memories
retrograde amnesia - loss of ability to recall past memories
how did Brenda Miller study HM in 1957
she asked him to complete a procedural memory task (action movement). he had to trace lines in a star whilst only watching his hand movements in a mirror .
