Critically discuss whether there is evidence that episodic memory and semantic memory exist as two separate long-term memory (LTM) systems. In your answer, you should refer to relevant theories and empirical evidence.

Outline

                Introduction

                                Outline what memory is, types of memory, and what will be discussed

Similarities

                Depend on the hippocampus, however, they are separate stores of memory and interdependent of one another 

Theory 

One component: 

                Find theory

Two components:

Tulving’s Theory of Memory

episodic memory 

Empirical: 

Physical structure: typically relies on MTL structures (Greenberg &Verfaellie, 2010). 

                                semantic memories

Empirical

Physical structure: once consolidated, rely on the neocortex (Greenberg &Verfaellie, 2010). 

Criticism Mckoon (1986)- presented opposing evidence which invalidates many of tulvings claims. They state that two separate systems cannot be assumed without a specific theory that highlights the differences of them both.

(Zola-Morgan et al., 1983) states Tulving’s interpretation of the neuropsychological data on individuals with amnesia was flawed found parallel deficits in semantic and episodic memory exist in such patients

                Levels of Processing – Craig and Lockhart 1972

The Weapon Effect on Eyewitness Testimonies (Johnson & Scott, 1976)- could potentially tlak about loftus’ experiment (smash, hit, etc)

                                Conclusion 

References

–                      Cowan unitary model states that stm is an activated part of ltm and information can be encoded directly to the ltm

–                      Episodic and semantic memory is not believed to be two separate systems but on a continuum (Sheldon et al., 2020)

–                      (Fang et al., 2018) explored the interaction between semantic and episodic systems. They found that “human subjects remember some aspects of episodes significantly more accurately if they had previously been familiarized with the objects occurring in the episode, as compared to episodes involving unfamiliar objects. We thus conclude that the interaction with the semantic system plays an important role for episodic memory”.

–                      (Cogdell-Brooke et al., 2020) found that “SA patients found it more difficult to retrieve episodic memories which were in conflict with pre-existing semantic knowledge. This was true across modalities. Moreover, these deficits were accentuated when the congruency was presented in a mixed fashion, and so unpredictable across trials. Evidence of these episodic control impairments in SA cases supports the idea of a shared mechanism for semantic and episodic memory control.”

–                      (McKoon& Ratcliff, 1979) Priming in episodic and semantic memory… their results caused them to oppose the view that there is a “functional separation of the semantic and episodic memory systems”.

–                      (Howard &Kahana, 2002) found that semantic information can affect episodic memory tests such as free recall performance.

–                      (Murphy et al., 2008) found that participants with aMCI, had a reduced episodic memory but an advanced semantic memory.

–                      (Graham et al., 2000) in an experiment with semantic dementia patients, participants scored low on picture naming tasks but highly in picture recognition tasks. Suggesting that episodic and semantic memory exists as two separate systems.

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