Types of Long-Term Memory

Question 1

What were the three types of long-term memory’s which Tulving proposed?

Answer 1

1) Episodic
2) Semantic
3) Procedural

Question 2

Define an episodic memory:

Answer 2

When we consciously recall memories of events we have experienced.

• Remembering when, where and when it happened.
• A declarative memory.

Question 3

Define a semantic memory:

Answer 3

Consciously recalling facts, definitions and knowledge we have accumulated across our lives.

• A declarative memory.

Question 4

Define a procedural memory:

Answer 4

Unconsciously remembering how to perform actions and skills such as walking.

• A non-declarative memory.

Question 5

Which study’s support Tulvings theory?

Answer 5

• Wearing and Molasion.
• Neuroimaging.

Question 6

Outline Wearings + Molasion case study?

Answer 6

• Had damage to hippocampus.
• Lost ability to form long-term memories (not all).
• He had damage to episodic memory but not procedural.

Question 7

What were the findings in Wearing and Molasions case study?

Answer 7

• They can still form new memories.
• Suggested that we have distinct memory stores for both episodic and procedural memories.

Question 8

Outline the neuroimaging study:

Answer 8

Allows us to see parts of the brain which are active when recalling different types of information in the LTM.

Question 9

What is active when recalling episodic memories? (Neuroimaging)

Answer 9

Our hippocampus.

Question 10

What is active when recalling semantic memories? (Neuroimaging)

Answer 10

Our temporal lobe.

Question 11

What is active when recalling procedural memories? (Neuroimaging)

Answer 11

Our cerebellum and motor cortex.

Question 12

How is neuroimaging a support for Tulvings theory?

Answer 12

LTM memories are all stored in a different memory stores.

Question 13

Who criticised Tulvings theory?

Answer 13

Squire and Zola.

Question 14

What did Squire and Zola argue?

Answer 14

Episodic and semantic memories may not be distinct types of memories

Question 15

Outline Squire and Zolas theory:

Answer 15

• Conducted studies on people who have long-term memory loss due to damage of their temporal lobe.
• Aimed to investigate what type of LTM loss they had.

Question 16

What did Squire and Zola find?

Answer 16

• Agreed with Tulving that those who have damage to their temporal lobe should have impaired semantic memories.
• But also found results in impaired episodic memories.

Question 17

What did Squire and Zola conclude?

Answer 17

• Semantic and episodic memories might not be distinct types of memories (may even be stored in the same memory store).
• Semantic memories may start as episodic memories.