Question 1

Reading your notes, or the textbook, over and over again is NOT recommended as a study strategy because

Accepted Answer

Simply reading over material repeatedly is a passive form of learning, which is not very effective for retaining and comprehending information. It is important to engage with the material actively, by highlighting, taking notes, summarizing, and practicing recall or application.

Question 2

Which of the following is an example of a question that leads to deep processing?

Accepted Answer

The question requires the person to think deeply and process the meaning of a specific word, which involves a higher level of cognitive processing. The other options require simple recall or surface-level processing.

Question 3

Although mnemonics can be helpful for remembering a small number of specific items (like a grocery list), they do have some drawbacks. One such problem is that

Accepted Answer

Using a mnemonic involves a trade-off of attention, so while it may help to remember specific items, it takes away from making deeper connections in understanding the material.

Question 4

Data indicate that, all things being equal, recall performance will be best if materials are encoded with ________ processing.

Accepted Answer

Research has consistently shown that deep processing, which involves elaborating on the meaning of the material and making connections to existing knowledge, leads to the best recall performance. Shallow processing, which involves focusing only on surface-level features such as physical appearance or sound, does not lead to strong memory representations. Intermediate processing falls somewhere in between shallow and deep processing and is not as effective as deep processing for recall. Sensory processing refers to the initial registration of sensory information and is not directly related to encoding for memory.

Question 5

A physician has just read an article about a recently invented drug. Which of the following is LEAST important in determining whether the physician will remember the article later on?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A physician has just read an article...

Question 6

In a peg-word system, participants help themselves memorize a group of items by

Accepted Answer

In a peg-word system, a participant associates each item with a part of an already memorized framework or skeleton, such as numbers or rhyming words. This association makes it easier to recall the items in order. Elaborate sentences or repeating the items to oneself may not be as effective as this approach. Categorizing the items can be helpful, but it is not the specific strategy employed in a peg-word system.

Question 7

A helpful analogy for the encoding and retrieval process in long-term memory is

Accepted Answer

Just as items in a library are catalogued and organized for easy retrieval, information is encoded and stored in long-term memory in a way that makes it easier to retrieve later on.

Question 8

In general, any technique designed to improve memory is referred to as

Accepted Answer

The term "mnemonic" literally means "aiding memory," so any technique aimed at improving memory can be referred to as a mnemonic strategy. Choices B and C refer to specific mnemonic strategies, while D simply describes the act of repeating information to improve memory.

Question 9

Which of these is LEAST important for memory acquisition?

Accepted Answer

Shallow processing involves processing information in a superficial manner and is less likely to result in long-term memory storage compared to deeper processing such as organization, understanding, and making connections. Therefore, shallow processing is the least important for memory acquisition.

Question 10

A participant is trying to memorize the word "parade." To help herself, she thinks about the word within a complicated sentence: "From their third-floor apartment, they had a great view of all the bands, the cowboys, and the floats in the Thanksgiving parade." This learning strategy will produce

Accepted Answer

The strategy of associating the word "parade" with a complicated sentence that involves attention to meaning and provides many memory connections will likely result in excellent memory performance. This is because the strategy involves creating multiple connections to the word, which increases the likelihood of successful retrieval from memory. Additionally, the attention to meaning helps to create a more integrated and meaningful memory trace.

Question 11

The memorizer plays an important role in memory acquisition. Which of the following is LEAST likely to have an effect on long-term memory?

Accepted Answer

The IQ of the memorizer is the least likely to have an effect on long-term memory as IQ is a measure of intelligence and cognitive abilities, while memory acquisition is a separate process. While having a higher IQ may make it easier for someone to process and understand new information, it does not necessarily mean that they will have better long-term memory for that information. Prior knowledge, learning environment, and rehearsal strategies all have a direct impact on memory acquisition and the ability to retain information in the long term.

Question 12

If a participant is asked to remember a previously experienced event, the relevant memory must be accessed via

Accepted Answer

Accessing a previously experienced event involves retrieving the memory through a retrieval path, which is essentially the pathway the brain follows to access a particular memory. Deep and elaborative processing are methods of encoding memories, not retrieving them. The memory index is not a commonly used term in the field of memory research.

Question 13

Deep processing may lead to improved memory performance because it facilitates retrieval. How exactly does this happen?

Accepted Answer

Deep processing forms many connections between the current item and previous knowledge. This makes it easier to retrieve the information later on as multiple pathways to the information have been established.

Question 14

Is memory for complex scenes similar to memory for words?

Accepted Answer

Both memory for complex scenes and memory for words benefit from organization and structure in order to facilitate retention. However, they may require different types of organization, as complex scenes may have more visual components that need to be arranged in a cohesive manner.

Question 15

According to fMRI evidence, which of the following areas is/are critical to the successful encoding of words?

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that the medial temporal lobe and prefrontal cortex are both critical to successful encoding of words, with the medial temporal lobe involved in creating new memories and the prefrontal cortex responsible for directing attention and working memory. The amygdala is more involved in emotional processing and does not appear to be as crucial for word encoding.

Question 16

Imagine you are shown the word "DOG" and asked one of the following questions about that word. According to the principles of elaborative encoding, which of the following questions is going to lead to the best memory performance?

Accepted Answer

The question in choice C involves creating a mental image of the word "DOG" in a specific situation, which requires more elaboration and deeper processing than just recognizing a letter or a word that rhymes. This will lead to better memory retention. Choice A also requires some elaboration, but not as much as choice C. Choices B and D involve more shallow processing and are less likely to lead to good memory performance.

Question 17

It is difficult to predict what an individual will remember for all of the following reasons EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

The other options provide reasons why memory recall may vary among individuals, but D is not a reason for such variation.

Question 18

Which of the following most accurately represents the probability an item will be retained (most likely > least likely)?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following most accurately represents...

Question 19

Several researchers have compared brain activity during the learning process for words that were later remembered or forgotten. Which of the following is NOT consistent with their findings?

Accepted Answer

The other options are consistent with the findings of studies that have compared brain activity during the learning process for words that were later remembered or forgotten. However, exposure to an item is not enough for retention. Learning requires actively processing and encoding information for it to be retained in memory.

Question 20

Researchers have used fMRI to evaluate the neural areas that are correlated with successful memory creation. They measured brain activity during encoding, gave participants a memory test, and then

Accepted Answer

The question links brain activity during encoding with successful memory creation, and then asks what researchers did after giving participants a memory test. The only answer choice that follows this logic is D, measuring neural activity during retrieval. This would allow researchers to evaluate if the same areas of the brain were active during encoding and retrieval of successfully remembered items, suggesting those areas are critical for memory creation. Option A, erasing memories, is not a typical or ethical practice for memory research. Option B, measuring neural activity for elaborated items, may be interesting but does not directly relate to the original question. Option C, comparing active neural areas across genders, is also not relevant to the original question about successful memory creation.

Quiz 6: The Acquisition of Memories and the Working-Memory System