Question 1

Which of the following brain structures is central to remembering how to perform well-learned skills?

Accepted Answer

The basal ganglia is a group of structures in the brain that play a key role in learning and performing well-practiced motor skills. It is responsible for the storage and retrieval of motor programs, allowing us to execute skilled movements without conscious effort or attention. The hippocampus is more involved in the formation and retrieval of declarative memories, while the hypothalamus and amygdala are primarily involved in emotional regulation and physiological processes such as hunger and thirst.

Question 2

Paulo was robbed at gunpoint by a group of strangers.Police officers later asked him to describe in writing what he had seen and heard during the robbery.Which measure of memory retention was being used?

Accepted Answer

Recall involves retrieving information from memory without any cues or prompts. In this scenario, Paulo is being asked to recall what he saw and heard during the robbery, making it the best choice from the given options. The other options don't fit as well - rehearsal is typically a way of retaining information, but Paulo isn't being asked to repeat anything back; recognition involves identifying previously encountered information, but there's no indication that Paulo is being shown anything to recognize; relearning involves gaining knowledge again after previously learning and possibly forgetting it, but it's not clear that Paulo has previously learned anything relevant to the robbery.

Question 3

At a block party,Cyndi is introduced to eight new neighbors.Moments later,she remembers only the names of the first three and last two neighbors.Her experience best illustrates

Accepted Answer

The situation described in the question pertains to the serial position effect, which refers to the tendency for people to better remember the items presented at the beginning (primacy effect) and the end (recency effect) of a list or sequence. In this case, Cyndi forgot the names of the neighbors in the middle, which is a common phenomenon resulting from the serial position effect. State-dependent memory refers to the fact that memory retrieval is better when a person's state (e.g. mood, physical condition) at retrieval is similar to the state during encoding, while context-dependent memory involves the influence of the physical environment or context on memory retrieval. Implicit memory refers to the unconscious and unintentional forms of memory, such as procedural memory or priming, which are typically not affected by the serial position effect.

Question 4

Retaining information over time through encoding,storage,and retrieval best describes

Accepted Answer

The process of retaining information over time through encoding, storage, and retrieval is the definition of memory. Long-term potentiation refers to the strengthening of neural connections through repeated stimulation, while automatic processing refers to the unconscious encoding of information without effort. The concept of the two-track mind posits that our conscious and unconscious minds process information simultaneously.

Question 5

Many students review course material at various times during a semester so they will be prepared for the final exam.These students are especially likely to retain the information far into the future.This best illustrates the value of

Accepted Answer

The scenario described in the question is an example of distributed practice, which involves spacing out study sessions over time rather than cramming all at once. This type of practice is known to improve long-term retention and is therefore valuable for students. Implicit memory refers to subconscious memories, state-dependent memory involves the effect of a person's current physiological or psychological state on memory recall, and the testing effect refers to the improvement of retention that occurs when material is tested rather than just studied. While these other factors may also play a role in memory, they are not the focus of the scenario described in the question.

Question 6

Mr.Nydam is unable to remember playing golf several times each week on a particular course.Yet the more he plays the course,the more his game improves.His experience illustrates the need to distinguish between

Accepted Answer

Mr. Nydam's experience suggests that he has implicit memory for playing golf on the particular course, which involves the formation of skills and habits that cannot be consciously recalled. He may not be able to explicitly remember playing golf on the course each week, indicating impaired explicit memory. This highlights the need to distinguish between explicit and implicit memory.

Question 7

Mentally rehearsing the glossary definitions of unfamiliar terms in order to remember them for a later test illustrates

Accepted Answer

Mentally rehearsing the definitions of unfamiliar terms requires conscious effort and attention, which is characteristic of effortful processing. The serial position effect refers to the tendency to remember items at the beginning and end of a list better than those in the middle, which is not relevant in this scenario. Implicit memory refers to non-conscious memory retrieval, which is not applicable in this case as the use of mental rehearsal requires conscious effort. Echoic memory is the sensory memory for auditory information, which is not related to the act of mentally rehearsing definitions.

Question 8

After Maya told her friend the five-digit password to a protected website,her friend was able to remember it only long enough to type it into the password box.In this instance,the password was clearly stored in her friend's ________ memory.

Accepted Answer

Short-term memory is a type of memory that can hold a limited amount of information for a short period of time, typically less than a minute. In this instance, Maya's friend was able to remember the password long enough to type it in, indicating that it was stored in her short-term memory. Flashbulb memory, on the other hand, refers to the detailed and vivid memories we have of significant events and is not applicable in this scenario. Iconic memory refers to visual sensory memory, while implicit memory refers to memories that are not consciously recalled but still affect behavior, neither of which are relevant in this situation.

Question 9

The happier Judie is,the more readily she recalls positive life experiences.This best illustrates that emotional states can become

Accepted Answer

Retrieval cues are stimuli that aid in the retrieval of memories. Judie's positive emotional state acts as a retrieval cue, making it easier for her to recall positive life experiences. The other options (B, C, and D) are not directly related to the phenomenon described in the question.

Question 10

To remember that a wagon,a baseball,and a doll were items on her Christmas shopping list,Julia formed a vivid mental image of an oversize doll pulling a bright red wagon loaded with baseballs.Julia's strategy best illustrates the use of

Accepted Answer

Julia's use of mental imagery to remember her Christmas shopping list is an example of a mnemonic device. Mnemonic devices are strategies or techniques that aid in memory retention and retrieval, such as using mental imagery, acronyms, or rhymes.

Question 11

An inability to form semantic memories would most likely result from damage to the

Accepted Answer

The hippocampus is crucial for the formation of long-term, declarative, semantic memories. Damage to this area of the brain can result in an inability to form new semantic memories, while other types of memory, such as procedural memory, may remain intact. The basal ganglia, hypothalamus, and cerebellum are not primarily involved in the formation of semantic memories.

Question 12

Memories of emotionally stressful events are likely to be strong because of activation of the

Accepted Answer

The amygdala is known to play a key role in the formation and storage of emotional memories. It is involved in the processing and storage of fear and other negative emotions, and is activated in response to emotionally arousing stimuli. The other options, such as the basal ganglia, cerebellum, and hypothalamus, are not typically involved in the formation and storage of emotional memories.

Question 13

Another term for implicit memory is ________ memory.

Accepted Answer

Implicit memory is also known as nondeclarative memory because it is not consciously retrieved or verbally expressed. It is typically developed through repetition and practice, such as the ability to ride a bike or play an instrument without consciously thinking about the steps involved.

Question 14

People should avoid back-to-back study times for learning Spanish and French vocabulary in order to minimize

Accepted Answer

Back-to-back study of two similar subjects, such as learning Spanish and French vocabulary, can cause interference which impairs memory recall. This is why it's recommended to alternate studying different subjects or take breaks between study sessions to minimize interference.

Question 15

Which of the following is believed to be the synaptic basis for learning and memory?

Accepted Answer

Long-term potentiation (LTP) is believed to be the synaptic basis for learning and memory. LTP is the long-lasting strengthening of the connection between two neurons that results from a brief stimulation. It is believed that as LTP occurs repeatedly, it can lead to the formation of new neural pathways and the consolidation of memories. Priming, the primacy effect, and positive transfer are all concepts that relate to memory and learning, but they are not believed to be the synaptic basis for these processes.

Question 16

The last three steps of the SQ3R study technique are

Accepted Answer

The last three steps of the SQ3R study technique are read, retrieve, and review. These steps involve reviewing the material that was read, recalling important information, and testing oneself on the content to ensure understanding and retention. These steps are crucial for successful learning and comprehension.

Question 17

During sleep,the brain consolidates information into ________ memory.

Accepted Answer

During sleep, the brain consolidates information into long-term memory. Working memory refers to short-term memory used for immediate tasks, recognition memory refers to the ability to recognize previously encountered information, and sensory memory refers to the initial impression of sensory information.

Question 18

The encoding of information directly into long-term storage without the aid of working memory best illustrates

Accepted Answer

Automatic processing refers to the encoding of information without the need for conscious effort or attention, bypassing the limitations of working memory. This type of processing can occur for various types of information, such as the meaning of words, skills, and habits.

Question 19

By consciously rehearsing the facts you need to learn in many separate study sessions over the semester,you are most clearly taking advantage of

Accepted Answer

The concept described, of consciously rehearsing information in separate study sessions over time, is an example of distributed practice. This is a proven and effective technique for retaining information in long-term memory. Proactive interference is when previously learned information interferes with the recall of new information. Serial position effect refers to the tendency to remember items from the beginning and end of a list more easily than those in the middle. Automatic processing is the ability to process information without conscious effort. None of these concepts are applicable to the described study strategy.

Question 20

Forming conscious associations between new course material and facts you already know is an effective way to build a network of

Accepted Answer

Forming conscious associations between new course material and facts you already know can help in creating retrieval cues. Retrieval cues can act as reminders to help access the information when needed.

Quiz 7: Memory