1. Theories of LTM

2. Clive has has severe problems with his long-term memory since his brain was damaged by a viral infection. As well as having severe anterograde amnesia (he can’t store new LT memories) he also has retrograde amnesia for information from before the damage occurred. He cannot remember much of his time at university or many events from his adult life, although his understanding of the everyday world seems unaffected. He knows who his wife is, but cannot remember much about their marriage. However, he can still play the organ and conduct an orchestra. How might a cognitive psychologist explain the pattern in Clive’s LTM deficits?

3. Assumed by Atkinson & Shiffrin (1968) to be unitary.
The multistore model
Sensory store
STM
LTM
Assumed by Atkinson & Shiffrin (1968) to be unitary.

4. Subsystems of LTM LTM Atkinson & Shiffrin (1968) Cohen & Squire (1980)
Tulving (1972)
LTM
Procedural
Declarative
Episodic
Semantic

5. What sorts of memories are represented here?

6. Tulving (1972) LTM has two qualitatively distinct systems
Episodic (experience) versus semantic (facts)
Mental diary versus mental encyclopedia
Episodic memories are time- and location-linked
Episodic memories are holistic
Episodic memories are prone to change
Retrieval of episodic memories is context-dependent

7. Comparisons Comparisons help us deepen understanding. Exam technique:
Requires a difference and a similarity
State the difference/similarity then back it up with facts
Use examples where appropriate

8. Learning & revision
Make a set of file cards to help you revise this topic for a quiz next lesson.
1. Review the topic and identify the key questions.
2. Formulate a clear and accurate answer, using appropriate technical vocabulary.
Use your cards to revise for a quiz at the start of next lesson.