Types of long term memory

Question 1

Explicit/declarative vs implicit/non-declarative

Answer 1

-Can be consciously recalled (implicit) and can be put into words (declarative
-For example: Semantic and Episodic memory
-Can’t be consciously recalled (implicit) and it is difficult to put into words (non-declarative)
-For example: Procedural memory

Question 2

Semantic memory

Answer 2

-Semantic memory includes facts, meanings, concepts and knowledge about the word (declarative and explicit)

Question 3

Episodic memory

Answer 3

-Episodic memory are memories about specific events or experiences (declarative and explicit)

Question 4

Procedural memory

Answer 4

-Procedural memory is unconscious memory of skills (muscle memory) (non declarative and implicit)

Question 5

Differences between types of memory

Answer 5

TIME STAMPED
-Episodic is time stamped, with reference to date and time of event
-Semantic is not time-stamped, the individual may not recall where the information was encoded/learnt
-Procedural is not time stamped and is often learnt in childhood
EXPLICIT OR IMPLICIT
-Episodic memories can be consciously recalled (explicit)
-Semantic memories can be consciously recalled (explicit)
-Procedural memories cannot be consciously recalled (implicit)
AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL
-Episodic memories are autobiographical; I am part of my memories
-Semantic memories are not autobiographical
-Procedural memories are not autobiographical
FORGETTING
-Episodic memories are the easiest memories to forget
-Semantic memories are resistant to forgetting
-Procedural memories are very resistant to forgetting

Question 6

Clive wearing (evidence for semantic, episodic and procedural memory being separate)

Answer 6

-Clive wearing has retrograde amnesia, meaning he is unable to recall episodic memories (e.g when he first played piano) he can recall semantic memories (e.g facts about himself) and he can play piano (procedural memory)
-Clive Wearing is also unable to encode new episodic and semantic memories, but under experimental conditions is able to form new procedural memories through repitition
-This suggests that episodic, semantic and procedural memory are all separate stores as Clive Wearing cannot recall or encode episodic memories, can recall but not encode new semantic memories, and has a fully functioning procedural memory

Question 7

Positive + negative evaluation of ideographic methods used to study types of memory

Answer 7

-The use of ideographic studies e.g Clive Wearing, allows researchers to study memory in a way that they would be unable to using nomothetic methods
-However, results from these ideographic case studies may not be able to be generalised to the wider population, as there are unknown, unique factors to the individual that may be causing the behaviour