Types of Long-Term Memory
Tulving (1985) proposed three distinct stores within long-term memory, each responsible for different types of information. This classification has significant implications for understanding memory processes in A Level Psychology.
Episodic Memory
Episodic memory refers to the ability to recall specific events or experiences from one's past. It requires conscious effort to retrieve these memories.
Example: Remembering your first day at school or your last birthday celebration.
Semantic Memory
Semantic memory encompasses our general knowledge about the world, including facts, concepts, and meanings. Like episodic memory, it requires conscious recall.
Vocabulary: Semantic memory is often described as our 'encyclopedic' knowledge.
Procedural Memory
Procedural memory involves the recall of skills and procedures, often referred to as 'muscle memory'. Unlike episodic and semantic memories, procedural memories can be recalled without conscious effort.
Example: Riding a bicycle or typing on a keyboard without looking at the keys.
Evaluation of Long-Term Memory Types
Clinical Evidence
Studies of patients with amnesia, such as HM and Clive Wearing, provide strong support for the distinction between these types of long-term memory.
Highlight: Amnesic patients often show impaired episodic memory while retaining intact semantic and procedural memories, suggesting separate memory systems.
Neuroimaging Evidence
Brain scanning studies, like that conducted by Tulving et al. (1994), have revealed distinct neural activations for different memory types.
Quote: "Episodic and semantic memories [are] recalled from prefrontal cortex - left (semantic), right (episodic)"
This neuroimaging evidence strengthens the case for separate long-term memory systems.
Real-Life Applications
Research into long-term memory in Psychology has practical implications for treating memory impairments.
Example: Belleville et al. (2006) showed that targeted training could improve episodic memory in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.