Types of long term memory

Question 1

What is a procedural memories (3)

Answer 1

Memories for motor skills and actions
memories of actions that are carried out in a certain order)
(how to swim or ride a bike)
non declarative - more difficult to put into words
unavailable for conscious inspection - carrying out the action automatically without awareness of the memory

Question 2

what are episodic memories (3)

Answer 2

refers to memories relating to specific episode or event that happened in your
life ( birthday)
autobiographical memory
declarative (they can be put into words and described verbal)
- can be consciously inspected

Question 3

what are semantic memories

Answer 3

relates to memories referring to meaning
- fact-based memories for meaningful information
-there is no reference to time and place
- declarative

Question 4

distinguishes between the types of long term memory

Answer 4

procedural memories are more resistant to forgetting and amnesia (Clive Wearing)
Different long term memory are located in different areas of the brain

Question 5

Supporting evidence for the different types of memories

Answer 5

• • Tulving et al demonstrated the different parts of long term memory
    pps did a PET scan and when asked to recall semantic memories (left prefrontal cortex) or episodic memories(right pc) it was found that different areas of the brain were activated

Patient HM (anterograde amnesia - lost of ability to form new memories
Brenda Milner (1957)
She asked Patient HM to complete a procedural task tracing a line in a star watching only from a mirror
Overtime he improved at the task showing he could form long term memory at doing the task before
- He had no episodic memory of ever doing it before
- this study shows the different types of long term memory

Clive wearing - antegrade and retrograde amnesia (1985)
provides further evidence for the existence of the types of long term memories as Clive’s ability to create new episodic memories was completely impaired and semantic as he couldn’t remember the names of his children but his procedural memories remaining in tact

Question 6

Disadvantages of research into long term memory

Answer 6

• The research into the different types of long term memory are based on rare unusual individual case studies so it an