What are semantic memories?
They don't involve the senses
Remembering that Paris is the capital of France is a type of memory called 'Semantic memory', memory for concepts, facts, rules, etc. Semantic memory has no sensory element to it but it will get you through the weekly pub quiz.
Semantic memory is the system that you use to store your knowledge of the world. It is a knowledge base that we all have and much of which we can access quickly and effortlessly. It includes our memory of the meanings of words - the kind of memory that lets us recall not only the names of the world's great capitals, but also social customs, the functions of things, and their colour and odour.
Semantic memory is a form of reference memory that contains information accumulated repeatedly throughout our lifetimes. So when people suffer from amnesia, it doesn't usually affect semantic memory but certain forms of dementia can affect it.
In Alzheimer's disease, for example, patients can find it increasingly difficult to name or describe objects correctly. They might at first they may be unable to recall the word for banana and just say 'this is a fruit'. Later they may just refer to it as 'something you eat'. Eventually they maybe unable to distinguish the category of information that labels things as food from that which labels things as pets or furniture.
Fronto-temporal dementia (FTD) is another condition that affects semantic memory. It's actually a term for several slightly different forms of dementia (including Pick's Disease) which share certain characteristics including structural damage to parts of the brain known as the frontal lobe and/or the temporal lobe These areas are responsible for our behaviour, emotional responses and language skills.
During the early stages of FTD memory is still intact, but the personality and behaviour of the person changes. Symptoms include:
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Inability to empathise with others – they may appear selfish and unfeeling
Acting out of character - sufferers may become more outgoing if they were previously introvert and vice versa.
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Lacking inhibitions – people with FTD might make tacky jokes and say inappropriate things such as comments of a sexual nature in front of children.
- Aggression and compulsion are also symptoms as well as getting easily distracted.
Then language problems occur including difficulties finding the right words, inability to perform small talk or else being verbose without really saying anything of substance. In the later stages of the condition FTD becomes almost indistinguishable from Alzheimer's. At the moment there are no treatments for FTD nor anything that can slow down the progression of the disease.
Anyone wanting more information about Fronto-Temporal dementias can follow these links:
Alex
I'm 15 years old and now understand that I am one of the lucky ones with this type of memory! I've always had a good memory, and find that I get good grades in school because I remember what my teacher says and also I can look at a page memorise it with pictures and different emotions! Also with languages, I come up trumps. I really am 1 of the lucky ones, and find it quite cool that I am have semantic memory!
hologram
is semantic memory what is stimulated through hypnopaedia?
can semantic memory become attached to emotions at any point, for any reason?
For example knowing that Paris is the capital of France could be semantic, but may also have emotional ties due to any experiences one may have had in relation to Paris.
Eileen Murtha Brown
As small child for one reason or another, myself and my other nine siblings went into care, it was into a catholic childrens home where the nuns used to tie rags to our feet and makes us polish the floors, it was an unhappy time for all of us.
Later on as i grow up every time i went into a library, i would feel ill, i'd have to leave as i would be sick, it was the polish they used on the floors, which had the same smell as the stuff they used in the childrens home ! it also had the affect of making me feel very vulnerable, the memory of that time and those feelings were right there as if it was just yesterday.
Nicole
My great grandmother died several years ago due to severe Alzheimer's Disease. Near the end of her life she would call certain objects by certain names; they were never the correct name, but she used one name for one object and used it exclusively. For example, the television was an Agate and the telephone was a screen door. Whenever she got mail, she said she received "backpack material."
Rami (web team)
One source of information on autism and brain function might be the work of Simon Baron-Cohen at Cambridge. His theory - very very basically, is that the female brain is hard-wired for empathy and the male for understanding and building systems. So autism he proposes is a sort of extreme version of the male brain. You'll find sources of information all over the place on this (and opposing theories I'm sure) but the is a good place to start.
Jill Summersall
I am a speech and language therapist working with stroke and dementia patients it struck me at a study day on fronto temporal dementia that the behaviour being described sounded to be like aquiring autistic traits, I have a son who is high functioning, is there any more research on which part of the brain is causing the autistic features any thing published on this would be fascinating to read thanks
Midlander
I'm jealous of these people who speak 50 languages because they can pick a language 'just like that'. Has this got anything to do with memory or is it because of some enhanced linguistic function of the brain?
Alan Coady
I have found three levels of likelihood of remembering a new word (either English or foreign) and its meaning. In order of increasing likelihood they are:
1. hearing the word
2. seeing the word (or hearing it spelled out)
3. understanding the etymology
Karin
I used to speak Russian (one of 3 languages) as a kid in Moscow but we moved when I was about 5 and it's been "lost", almost, as I will explain. Now 43 years later I speak and understand about 8 languages, and intimately know the difference between hearing-translation-understanding, and the gut reaction of hearing-understanding. Even though I dont speak Russian any more, it still sparks off the chain of "feelings" associated with experienced hearing-understanding but with an obvious difference - the actual comprehension has gone. Sad really, but true nonetheless.
