Types of LTM

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Types of LTM
- Episodic memory
  - Stores episodes from our lives
  - Time stamped
  - Requires conscious effort to recall
  - When we recall, we go back to that day. It may not be entirely accurate because its your interpretation
- Semantic memory
  - Meaningful information to you. E.g. your favourite film.
  - Personal information
  - Store for understanding
  - Stores memories based on knowledge, facts and meaning.
- Procedural memory
  - Most are automatic/ can recall without conscious awareness
  - Stores memories for actions and skills
Evidence from HM - An example of there being more than one part of the LTM. When he had his hippocampus removed it caused damage to one part of the LTM but able to remember others. He couldn't remember stroking his dog (procedural) but knew what a dog was (semantic)
Evidence from Clive Wearing, Blackmore (1981) - Clive was an amnesia patient, he lost episodic memory (of getting married) lost semantic (memory of wife) but understood what 'a wife' was (semantic) and how to play the piano. LTM has to be more than one thing
Evidence from brain scans - Tulving et al (1994) PET scans while carrying out memory tasks. Episodic + semantic memories caused activity in the prefrontal cortex, semantic in left hemosphere, episodic in right. Shows different parts of the brain affect different types of LTM
Case studies useful but we don't have control of variables + EVs so we cannot be sure of a C+E

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