1. Types of Memory Lecture Notes Key: ^ means discuss before notes
v means discuss after notes
Types of Memory

2. What is Memory?
1. Memory – process by which we recollect prior experiences, information & skills learned in the past.
Lecture Notes Key: ^ means discuss before notes
v means discuss after notes
Click for next slide. Definition of memory is on the next slide as well.

3. Episodic Memory
Generic/Semantic Memory
Procedural Memory
The types of memory are in the definition of memory.
Episodic memory is our prior experiences
Generic Memory is information we hold in the brain. Another name for generic is semantic. We will be using both terms throughout this unit.
Procedural Memory is our skills we have learned
Memory – process by which we recollect prior experiences, information & skills learned in the past. 2. 3 1.

4. memory of a specific event. (what you ate for dinner last night)
1. Episodic Memory -
1 V The event took place in the person’s presence, or the the person experience the event. Dinner and perhaps the semester test you took a couple of weeks ago.
2 ^ Some episodic memories are so detailed that it’s like we have photographs in our head of the event.
“someone special” – remember in detail what they wore, or the the conversation, or the environment you were in when you met
Reasons why –
1. We pay more attention to events that have special meaning for us. Such events usually arouse powerful feelings.
2. Also, we tend to think about flashbulb memories often, especially if they are positive ones- first love, the birth of a child, or a special accomplishment.
Another example is September 11th or the space shuttle challenger exploding.
3 ^ Ask who was the first president of our country? Who know the alphabet?
“Nancy’s visit to the doctor” researchers gave subjects a long tedious involved story about Nancy’s visit . Subjects remembered little when they were tested later. Then they gave a different group the same story about Nancy’s visit, except they altered the beginning by saying that her visit could bring on a major crisis in Nancy’s life(an emotion generator), subjects remembered the details of the visit quite well (Owens et al., 1979)
Experiment: Ask your parents what their day was like January 6th When they say I have no idea, ask them what their day was like September 11, 2001.
a. Flashbulb Memory – a clear memory of an emotionally significant event. (first time you met that “someone special” or Twin Towers)
2. Semantic Memory(Generic) - General knowledge &
information that can be recalled.

5. 2. Semantic Memory(Generic) - General knowledge & information that
^ Generic Memory -
Unlike with episodic memory, we usually do not remember when we acquired the information in our generic memory.
V Procedural Memory - Example - driving a car, riding a bike or swimming, typing. Once such a skill has been learned, it usually stays with you for many years. Even if you don not use the skill for a long time, you are unlikely to forget it.
Usually it is difficult to describe how they do something. Tying a shoe
2. Semantic Memory(Generic) -
General knowledge & information that
can be recalled.
3. Procedural Memory -
memory that consists of the skills & procedures one has learned

6. Three Types of Memory Examples
Episodic Semantic/Generic Procedural
Students write create chart in their notes and write examples of each type of memory in the chart above. Review in with class their answers.