Types of Long term memory Flashcards
What did Tulving suggest about LTM? (1985)
LTM is a mulit-part system made up of two or more subsystems containing different types of information.
What is episodic LTM?
-our ability to recall personal experiences and events (episodes) from our lives, e.g. birthdays, the breakfast you ate this morning
-have to make a conscious (explicit) effort to recall episodic memories .e.g. you are able to search your memory of what happened when you went on holiday last year.
-Once done, episodic memories are easy to verbalise.
What can a single episode include?
People, places, objects and behaviours which are bound together in one memory episode.
What does the strength of episodic LTM depend on?
the emotions present at the time a memory is coded e.g. traumatic events are often well recalled due to the high emotional content.
Why are episodic memories time stamped?
So you remember when they happened; recently,last week or this morning
What is semantic LTM?
-store contains facts about the world and is always being added to, e.g. the capital of England is London, the meanings of words, etc
-also a conscious (explicit) type of memory in that you have to make an effort to recall how oranges taste. Semantic memory is your knowledge base for everything you know; it is less personal and is not time-stamped. For example, you know the capital of England is London but can’t remember when you first learned that.
What is episodic?
Remembering when
what is procedural?
remembering how
What is semantic?
Understanding the meaning
What is procedural LTM?
-A memory for actions and skills
-can recall these without conscious awareness (implicit) (e.g., knowing how to ride a bike depends on a developed skill which we automatically access from our procedural memory.
-Many procedural LTMs occur early in life, involving the learning of important motor skills like walking, dressing etc.
-However, it can be difficult to verbalise these skills.
