Memory Models and Types

Key Terms

• Episodic Memory: Memory of personal experiences and events.
• Semantic Memory: General knowledge and facts about the world.
• Procedural Memory: Memory of how to do things (motor skills).
• Declarative Memory: Explicit memory that involves conscious recall.
• Non-declarative Memory: Implicit memory that does not require conscious recall.

Introduction

• Atkinson & Shiffrin's Multi-Store Model (MSM) is often criticised for being overly simple.
• Baddeley & Hitch's Working Memory Model (WMM) breaks down Short-Term Memory (STM) into separate components.
• Subsequent research further subdivided Long-Term Memory (LTM) into types, including declarative (knowing that) and non-declarative (knowing how) memory.

Tulving's LTM

• Endel Tulving is a key figure in memory research.
• He proposed that LTM comprises three distinct stores: episodic, semantic, and procedural memory.
• Episodic memory stores knowledge of personal events.
• Semantic memory stores general knowledge (e.g., facts).

Episodic Memory

• Episodic memory is part of LTM, storing information about personal events (episodes).
• It's declarative and requires conscious recall.
• Includes details of events, the emotions associated, and the time the event happened.
• These memories are stored in the prefrontal cortex.

Semantic Memory

• Semantic memory is part of LTM, storing general world knowledge, including word meanings.
• It's declarative and involves conscious recall.
• Can be linked to episodic memories but isn't time-stamped.

Procedural Memory

• Procedural memory is part of LTM, storing information on how to do things (motor skills).
• It is non-declarative - unconscious and automatic.
• Examples include riding a bicycle or playing a musical instrument.

Explaining the Differences

• When explaining the differences between types of LTM, focus on unique features of each, not just on separate descriptions.
• For example, one difference between episodic and semantic memory is that episodic memories are not learned whereas semantic knowledge may be taught.

LTM Evaluation (AO3)

Brain Scans

• Different brain areas are active during different LTM tasks.
• Studies using PET scans show that episodic memories involve the prefrontal cortex (right side) and semantic memories involve the left prefrontal cortex.
• Procedural memory involves areas like the cerebellum.

Clinical Evidence (Clive Wearing)

• Clive Wearing's amnesia demonstrated that specific LTM types can be affected differently, with different areas of the brain seemingly undamaged despite widespread impairment.
• This highlights the varied roles of the hippocampus and related areas in storing memories.

Problems with clinical evidence

• Limitations of case studies, like Clive Wearing or HM, include a lack of control over variables.
• Specific confounding variables, such as pre-existing conditions or medications may have affected the participant's memory rather than the brain damage itself, making it difficult to isolate the impact of brain damage on memory.
• Findings are specific to the individual and should not be generalised.

Real-life application

• Studies such as Belleville et al (2006) show that training can improve episodic memory in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.
• Episodic memory is often the type of memory most affected by mild cognitive impairments.

Test your knowledge on various memory models and the types of long-term memory. This quiz covers the distinctions between episodic, semantic, procedural, declarative, and non-declarative memory, as well as the contributions of researchers like Atkinson, Shiffrin, and Tulving. Prepare to dive deeper into the intriguing world of memory!