Individuals may have different types of episodic memories as follows:įlashbulb memories are exceptionally vivid and highly detailed ‘snapshots’ of moments or circumstances wherein you learned important or surprising pieces of news (Brown & Kulik, 1977). Remembering what you did and how you felt on a family holiday. Recalling what you did over the Christmas holidays. Tulving (1972) identified remembering as a feeling associated with the past (and therefore episodic), and knowing as recalling facts (and therefore semantic).Īdditionally, Tulving (1985, 2002) pointed out that mental time travel, connection to self, and autonoetic consciousness were the three main properties of episodic memory.Įpisodic memories are associated with autobiographical events.Īn example of an episodic memory is recalling your first kiss. He used the term to describe the difference between ‘remembering’ and ‘knowing.’ The term ‘episodic memory’ was first introduced in 1972 by the Canadian experimental psychologist Endel Tulving. Generally, emotions associated with a memory tend to raise the likelihood that that memory would be recollected more easily and more vividly (McCloskey, Wible & Cohen, 1988). Specific events, general events, personal facts, and flashbulb memories constitute different types of episodic memory.Įpisodic memory, which is a part of long-term explicit memory, comprises each person’s unique recollection of specific experiences, events and situations (Schacter, Gilbert & Wegner, 2009).While episodic memory involves a person’s autobiographical experiences and associated events, semantic memory involves facts, ideas, and concepts acquired over time.The Canadian psychologist Endel Tulving first introduced the term ‘episodic memory’ to distinguish ‘remembering’ from ‘knowing.’.Episodic memory is important as it helps individuals construct a sense of self. Your memories of your first day of school, what you have for breakfast, and your graduation are all examples of episodic memories.It involves conscious thought and is declarative. Episodic memories usually include details of an event, the context in which the event took place, and emotions associated with the event. Episodic memory is part of long-term explicit memory, and comprises a person’s unique recollection of experiences, events, and situations.

Example of eidetic memory