Memory – Type of Long Term Memory

TYPES OF LONG-TERM MEMORY

Episodic Memory

• Stored in the right hemisphere of the brain
• Specifies personal events / memories
• Events occurring in an individual’s life

Semantic Memory

• Stored in the left hemisphere of the brain
• Meanings
• Understandings
• General knowledge

Procedural Memory

• Stored in the cerebellum and basal ganglia
• Performance of action
• Unconsciously performed
• Habits / skills e.g walking, blinking etc

Research

• ‘HM’ case study of a brain damaged person – HM was 27 years old and suffered from severe epilepsy
• Surgeons removed the left hippocampus in the brain to deal with this
• Left side of the brain is where the episodic and semantic memory is stored
• He could not form new memories after the operation, suggesting his both his episodic and semantic memory was affected
• However, he could acquire new procedural memories – cerebellum was not affected

Evaluation

• Overlap between the episodic memory system and semantic memory system
• Semantic memory may involve a large network of associated links performed in different brain areas – some links may be stronger than others – explains why some things are easier to recall than others
• Damage to different areas of the brain can affect semantic memory abilities – supports the idea that semantic memory abilities are spread throughout brain structures
• Research for procedural memory is mainly base upon case studies – unreliable – not always applicable to a wider population