Question

4. Give a detailed example of how one's sensory memory can be effectively transformed into the following three types of long-term memory: (a) semantic memory, (b) episodic memory and (c) procedural memory. [20%]

Answer 1

Semantic memory

• Semantic memory is memory for meanings and facts. This memory contains what one knows.
• Semantic memory refers to a portion of long-term memory that processes ideas and concepts that are not drawn from personal experience.
• It is the recollection of facts gathered from the time we are young.

Examples

• Knowing that grass is green
• Knowing how to use scissors
• Understanding how to put words together to form a sentence
• Recognizing the names of colors
• Remembering what a dog is
• Knowing how to use the phone
• Semantic memory includes things that are common knowledge, such as the names of colors, the sounds of letters, the capitals of countries etc

Episodic memory

• Episodic memory contains information about one's own personal experiences.

• Episodic memory is specific to the individual.

• It is the recollection of biographical experiences and specific events in time in a serial form, from which we can reconstruct the actual events that took place at specific points in time in our lives.

  Examples

• Reminiscing about your first love
• Recalling your first day of school
• Knowing the name and breed of your first dog
• Remembering your wedding day
• Remembering your first day on a new job

There is a steady movement of memories from episodic to semantic, especially during childhood when we are continuously learning new things. For example, learning how to use the phone may start out as an episodic memory of dialing a phone number on a toy telephone. That knowledge then becomes semantic memory.

Procedural memory

• Procedural memory is a part of the long-term memory that is responsible for knowing how to do different action and skills
• Procedural memories start to form very early in life as you begin to learn how to walk, talk, eat, and play.
• These memories become so ingrained that they are almost automatic.
• You do not need to consciously think about how to perform these motor skills; you simply do them without much thought.

Examples

• Writing with a pen
• Typing on a keyboard
• Playing basketball
• Playing piano
• Swimming
• Walking