Types of LTM

Question 1

What are the different types of LTM?

Answer 1

Episodic
Semantic
Procedural

Question 2

Explain Episodic LTM

Answer 2

Episodic memory is the memory of specific personal events and is heavily influenced by emotions. It is an explicit memory and an example is - a wedding

Question 3

Explain Semantic LTM

Answer 3

Semantic memory is the memory of facts and general knowledge. It is an eplicit memory and an example is - knowing that the capital of France is Paris

Question 4

Explain Procedural LTM

Answer 4

Procedural memory is the memory of how to do something and is motor/action based. It is an implicit memory and an example is - riding a bike.

Question 5

What is the difference between an explicit and implicit memory?

Answer 5

Explicit memories are easy to put into words and are only recalled if consciously thought about.

Implicit memories are harder to put into words and dont require conscious thought to be recalled.

Question 6

What brain areas are used in Episodic memories?

Answer 6

The prefrontal cortex is associated with initial coding of episodic memories. Memories of different parts of the event are located in the different visual, auditory areas of the brain and are connected together in the hippocampus.

Question 7

What brain areas are used in Semantic memories?

Answer 7

Some evidence suggests the involvement of the hippocampus and related areas while others believe there is usage of several brain areas.

Question 8

What brain areas are used in Procedural memories?

Answer 8

Mainly associated with the neocortex brain areas of primary motor cortex, cerebellum and prefrontal cortex and DOESN’T need the hippocampus to function.

Question 9

Research support of different types of LTM - case study CLIVE WEARING

Answer 9

Clive Wearing obtained a rare brain injury from a virus that attacked an area of the brain crucial for memory.
Procedural memory was intact
Semantic memory was partially damaged
Episodic memory was badly damaged

Question 10

Research support of different types of LTM - TULVING

Answer 10

6 ppts including Tulving and his wife were injected with particles of radioactive gold to track brain blood flow in a PET scan. Tulving scanned brains whilst they though of semantic or episodic memories.
When ppts thought about semantic blood flow increased in anterior temporal lobe
When ppts thought about episodic blood flow increased in frontal lobes
Hippocampus was active in both conditions

Question 11

EVALUATION - Are there different types of LTM?

Answer 11

STRENGTHS
- research support - clive wearing and tulving
- good real life application

LIMITATION
- could be reductionist - hippocampus active in both epsiodic and semantic memories