types of long-term memory

Question 1

AO1

Answer 1

There are several different types of long-term memory, and each has a separate function and is associated with different brain areas.
Episodic - responsible for storing information about events that we have experienced in our lives. E.g. personal events (a wedding)
These are time stamped, they include several elements that are interwoven to produce a single memory, and you have to make a conscious effort to recall these types of memories.
Strong emotions experienced at the time of the memory cause it to be coded more strongly - so more likely to remember.
Semantic - where we store information about the world, which includes knowledge about the meaning of words, as well as general knowledge.
E.g. Knowing London is the capital city of England.
Procedural - responsible for knowing how to do things, e.g. motor skills, such as riding a bike.
Does not require conscious thought.

Question 2

AO3 - brain scans

Answer 2

The distinction between the different types of long term memories is supported by research using brain scans. Researchers got participants to complete memory tasks while their brains were being scanned. They found that the left hemisphere was active while recalling semantic memories, whereas the right hemisphere was active while recalling episodic memories. This therefore provides evidence that there are different types of long-term memory.
Brain scans are scientific - reliable.

Question 3

AO3 - Belleville et al

Answer 3

A strength of identifying different types of LTM is shown by Belleville et al who demonstrated that episodic memories could be improved in older people who had a mild cognitive impairment. Participants who had undergone training performed better on a test of episodic memory than those who had no training. Therefore, the types of long-term memory enables specific treatments to be developed.
Additionally, real word application - common for elderly people to suffer memory loss as they age, and this is usually episodic memories. So universal.

Question 4

AO3 - case study Clive Wearing

Answer 4

Case studies show patients with impaired episodic memory but intact procedural memory. For example, Clive Wearing had damaged episodic memory, but could still play the piano (procedural).
However, case studies cannot be generalised to the whole population.