Question 1

Jenkins and Dallenbach found that memory was better in people who were

Accepted Answer

Jenkins and Dallenbach found that memory was better in people who were asleep during the retention interval, presumably because interference was reduced. During sleep, there is less interference from environmental stimuli and other memories, allowing the brain to consolidate and strengthen the memory trace.

Question 2

Semantic encoding is a type of

Accepted Answer

Semantic encoding involves processing and encoding information based on its meaning, which is a form of deep processing. This type of processing is likely to result in better retention of information compared to shallow processing, which involves processing information based on its physical characteristics. Mnemonics and echoic memory are not types of encoding. Semantic encoding is a type of deep processing, which involves the meaningful analysis and elaboration of information to create durable memories. This type of encoding is more effective than shallow processing, which focuses on surface-level characteristics of stimuli, and can lead to better long-term retention of information. It is not a mnemonic or an aspect of echoic memory.

Question 3

Long-term potentiation refers to

Accepted Answer

Long-term potentiation (LTP) is a process in which there is an increase in the strength of synaptic transmission between certain neurons, leading to the formation of stronger and more enduring memories. LTP is thought to underlie learning and memory at the cellular level. Therefore, the increased efficiency of synaptic transmission between certain neurons following learning is the best description of LTP. Long-term potentiation (LTP) refers to the increased strength and efficiency of the synaptic connections between certain neurons following learning, which is thought to be the cellular basis for long-term memory formation. Option A is incorrect as LTP does not refer to the disruptive influence of old memories on new ones. Option B is incorrect as it refers to the interference effect in memory retrieval, whereas LTP is a mechanism of memory formation. Option C is incorrect as it describes the mood-congruent memory effect, which is different from LTP.

Question 4

Amnesia patients typically experience disruption of

Accepted Answer

Amnesia patients typically experience disruption of explicit memories, which are conscious and conscious recollections of information. They tend to have intact implicit memories, which are unconscious memories of skills and habits. Amnesia patients also typically have intact iconic (visual) and echoic (auditory) sensory memories. Amnesia patients typically experience disruption of explicit memories, which are the conscious and intentional memories of people, events, and facts. Implicit memories, which are the unconscious and unintentional memories of skills and habits, are often preserved in amnesia patients. Iconic memories and echoic memories are both types of sensory memory, which are very brief and have not been found to be significantly affected by amnesia.

Question 5

Lashley's studies, in which rats learned a maze and then had various parts of their brains surgically removed, showed that the memory

Accepted Answer

Lashley's studies showed that the memory remained no matter which area of the brain was tampered with, suggesting that the memory is distributed throughout the brain rather than being located in a specific area. Lashley's studies showed that memory remained intact even when specific parts of the brain were removed. This suggests that memory is not localized to a specific area of the brain, but rather is distributed throughout.

Question 6

Amnesia victims typically have experienced damage to the ________ of the brain.

Accepted Answer

The hippocampus is a crucial structure for memory formation and retrieval, and damage to this area of the brain is often implicated in cases of amnesia.

Question 7

During her evening Spanish language exam, Janica so easily remembers the French vocabulary she studied that morning that she finds it difficult to recall the Spanish vocabulary she rehearsed that afternoon. Her difficulty best illustrates

Accepted Answer

Janica's difficulty in recalling Spanish vocabulary due to her earlier study of French vocabulary is an example of proactive interference, where previously learned information interferes with newly learned information. The spacing effect refers to the phenomenon where spaced out repeated practice of information leads to better long-term retention, but it does not explain Janica's situation. Source amnesia refers to the inability to remember where, when, or how previously learned information was acquired, and retroactive interference occurs when newly learned information interferes with the recall of previously learned information. Neither of these phenomena accurately describes Janica's experience.

Question 8

Textbook chapters are often organized into ________ to facilitate information processing.

Accepted Answer

Textbook chapters are often organized into hierarchies, where information is structured into a top-down format with broader categories at the top and more specific details at the bottom. This helps readers to process and understand complex information more easily. Mnemonic devices, chunks, and recognizable units may also be used to aid information processing, but they are not typically the primary organizing principle used in textbook chapters.

Question 9

The semantic processing of the words in a short poem illustrates

Accepted Answer

The semantic processing of the words in a short poem requires deep processing, which involves encoding the meaning and significance of the words. This is in contrast to shallow processing, which simply involves encoding surface features like the visual appearance of the words or their sound. Procedural memory refers to the memory of how to perform a task or skill, like riding a bike or typing on a keyboard, and is not directly relevant to the processing of words in a poem. The peg-word system is a mnemonic strategy for memorizing information by associating it with a series of visual images, and is also not directly relevant to the processing of words in a poem. The serial position effect refers to the tendency to remember items at the beginning and end of a list more easily than items in the middle, and is not directly relevant to the processing of words in a poem. Deep processing involves semantic processing, which focuses on the meaning and concepts associated with words. The comprehension and analysis of the words in a poem would require deep semantic processing. The other options, procedural memory, the peg-word system, and the serial position effect, are not directly related to semantic processing of words in a poem.

Question 10

Anterograde amnesia is the inability to

Accepted Answer

Anterograde amnesia specifically refers to the inability to form new memories, while retrograde amnesia refers to the inability to retrieve old memories. Difficulty remembering where information came from or holding a limited amount of information in working memory are not specific to anterograde amnesia.

Question 11

Employing the single word HOMES to remember the names of North America's five Great Lakes best illustrates the use of

Accepted Answer

Using the word HOMES as a mnemonic to remember the names of the Great Lakes demonstrates the use of a mnemonic technique. A mnemonic is a memory aid that helps the brain associate information with an easily remembered word or phrase. This question is asking about remembering information using a particular technique, which is a mnemonic, or memory aid. The use of the word HOMES is a common mnemonic for remembering the names of the Great Lakes (Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior). This is not an example of spacing or serial position effects, which relate to how the timing and spacing of information affects our ability to recall it. Nor is it an example of implicit memory, which refers to memories that are unconsciously formed and retrieved without intentional effort.

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

Effortful processing refers to the process of actively and intentionally engaging in strategies that aid in the encoding and retention of information. In this scenario, mentally rehearsing the glossary definitions requires effortful processing in order to remember the terms for a later test. The other options, such as the peg-word system, procedural memory, and echoic memory, do not accurately describe the process of mentally rehearsing glossary definitions.

Question 13

Which of the following is central to the processing of procedural memories?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is central to...

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

Long-term potentiation (LTP) is a process in which the strength of synapses between neurons is enhanced after repeated stimulation. This is believed to be the synaptic basis for learning and memory.

Question 15

Experimenters gave people a list of words to be recalled. When the participants were tested after a delay, the items that were best recalled were those

Accepted Answer

The answer of Experimenters gave people a list of words...

Question 16

Mrs. McBride can't consciously recall how frequently she criticizes her children because it would be too anxiety-arousing to do so. Sigmund Freud would have suggested that her poor memory illustrates

Accepted Answer

According to Freudian theory, repression is a defense mechanism that operates unconsciously to prevent anxiety-provoking memories, thoughts, or impulses from entering consciousness. Mrs. McBride's inability to consciously recall her behavior suggests that she may be repressing her memories of criticizing her children. Freud believed that people sometimes use repression (unconsciously pushing threatening memories or impulses out of awareness) to avoid anxiety-arousing thoughts or feelings. This can lead to poor memory of the repressed material.

Question 17

Information is maintained in short-term memory only briefly unless it is

Accepted Answer

Information stored in short-term memory fades quickly unless it is rehearsed or repeated, which allows it to be transferred to long-term memory. Encoding refers to the process of transforming information into a form that can be stored in memory, iconic and echoic memory are specific types of sensory memory, and retrieval refers to the process of accessing previously stored information. Information in short-term memory will only be maintained for a brief period of time unless it is actively rehearsed. Rehearsal involves repeating the information to oneself, which helps keep it in short-term memory for longer periods of time. Encoding refers to the process of transferring information from short-term memory to long-term memory, iconic and echoic memory are sensory memory systems, and retrieval refers to the process of accessing information from long-term memory.

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

The statement that Judie more readily recalls positive life experiences when she is happier suggests that her emotional state is acting as a retrieval cue. Retrieval cues are pieces of information that help us access stored memories. In this case, Judie's positive mood is serving as a cue that helps her retrieve memories of positive experiences. The statement that Judie more readily recalls positive life experiences when she is happier suggests that her emotional state serves as a retrieval cue for those memories. This means that her emotions act as a cue or signal for her brain to access and retrieve memories associated with similar emotional states.

Question 19

Mr. Nydam suffers amnesia and 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 illustrates the phenomenon of implicit memory, where previous experiences influence current behavior without conscious awareness or explicit memory. This is different from explicit memory, which is conscious and intentional. There is no indication in the scenario of interference or different types of memory being involved, so options A and B can be eliminated. There is also no indication of recognition or recall being relevant, so D can also be eliminated. Mr. Nydam's situation illustrates implicit memory, which is demonstrated through his improved golf game without conscious recollection of playing the course previously. This is distinct from explicit memory, which involves conscious recollection of past events or information.

Question 20

Studies by Loftus and Palmer, in which people were quizzed about a film of an accident, indicate that

Accepted Answer

The studies by Loftus and Palmer show that people's recall can be easily affected by misleading information. The other options are not supported by the studies. Loftus and Palmer's studies suggest that people's recall can be easily influenced by misleading information.

Quiz 8: Learning