Types of Long-Term Memory - Cognitive Psychology

Long-term memory (LTM) is the memory storage system that can hold information for extended periods, potentially indefinitely. It is characterized by a large capacity with no known limits on what we can remember, though some information may be forgotten over time.

Types of Long-Term Memory

Long-term memory is categorized into two major types:

Explicit Memory (Declarative Memory)

• Definition: Knowledge or experiences that can be consciously remembered.
• Types of Explicit Memory:
  • Episodic Memory:
    • Refers to firsthand experiences (e.g., high school graduation, a dinner in New York).
  • Semantic Memory:
    • Refers to knowledge of facts and world concepts (e.g., absolute values, definitions).
• Assessment Methods:
  • Recall Memory Test: Requires generating and verifying information (e.g., essay tests).
  • Recognition Memory Test: Requires identifying information from a list (e.g., multiple-choice tests).
  • Relearning (Savings Method): Involves measuring how quickly information is relearned after being forgotten, providing a sensitive measure of memory.

Implicit Memory (Non-declarative Memory)

• Definition: Knowledge that cannot be consciously accessed but influences behavior.
• Types of Implicit Memory:
  • Procedural Memory:
    • Knowledge of how to perform tasks without conscious explanation (e.g., riding a bike).
  • Classical Conditioning Effects:
    • Learning associations between stimuli (e.g., neutral stimulus causing a conditioned response).
  • Priming:
    • Changes in behavior due to recent experiences or frequent exposure (e.g., word fragment tests).
• Measurement of Priming:
  • Word Fragment Test: Completion of word fragments influenced by previously read sentences.

Influence of Priming

Priming can unconsciously influence everyday behaviors, such as smoking after seeing a cigarette ad or feeling patriotic after seeing a national flag.

Case Study: Clive Wearing

• Due to brain damage, Clive Wearing exhibits significant memory impairments.
  • Retains some semantic and procedural memories (e.g., playing the piano).
  • Loses explicit episodic memories and cannot retain new information for more than 30 seconds, resulting in a limited awareness of the world.

Definitions

• Long-Term Memory: Permanent information storage enabling retention and retrieval over time.
• Explicit (Declarative) Memory: Consciously recalled general knowledge or personal experiences.
• Episodic Memory: Memory of personal experiences linked to specific times and places.
• Semantic Memory: General factual knowledge and concepts.
• Relearning (Savings Method): Quantitative measure of retained learning without conscious memory.
• Implicit Memory: Memory for events or experiences without conscious recall.
• Classical Conditioning: Learning through stimulus association leading to conditioned responses.
• Priming: Effect of recent experiences on processing similar stimuli later.