Question 1

A display of 12 letters is flashed on a screen in front of you followed by a tone. You attempt to recall a portion of the display based on the specific tone you heard. Which aspect of your memory is this experiment designed to assess?
A) primary memory
B) sensory memory
C) long-term memory
D) short-term memory

Accepted Answer

This experiment is designed to assess sensory memory, which is the ability to retain impressions of sensory information after the original stimuli have ended. The brief display of letters and the association with a specific tone target the sensory memory's capacity to hold a large amount of information for a very short period of time.

Question 2

One problem with relying on eidetic imagery to study for tests is that __________.
A) you remember too much material and the professor will think you are cheating
B) eidetic images fade in .25 seconds, as Sperling has shown
C) you may be able to recall the material but you don't necessarily understand it
D) it only helps you remember things from other cultures

Accepted Answer

While eidetic imagery may help with memorization, it doesn't necessarily aid in comprehension or understanding of the material.

Question 3

You are out for a drive with the family and are lucky enough to get a window seat. The rapidly passing scenery you see out the window is first stored in __________ memory.
A) echoic
B) iconic
C) long-term
D) short-term

Accepted Answer

Iconic memory is responsible for the visual information that is immediately perceived and held in a sensory register for a brief moment before being processed further or forgotten. As scenery outside of a car quickly passes by, it is first stored in iconic memory.

Question 4

What is one of the real-world uses of iconic storage?
A) It is where photographic memories are kept.
B) It is the process that covers up the disruption that would occur from microsaccades.
C) It increases depth of processing.
D) It allows a brief memory of something that was said to you even if you were not paying attention.

Accepted Answer

Iconic storage refers to the very brief (<1 second) storage of visual information. It helps in stabilizing the visual world despite the rapid movements of our eyes (microsaccades), thus preventing the perception of a jittery or disrupted visual field.

Question 5

In the information-processing model of memory, the process of storage would be analogous to which part of a modern computer?
A) a memory stick (or thumb drive)
B) a central processing unit
C) a wireless mouse and keyboard
D) a flat panel monitor

Accepted Answer

Just like how a memory stick stores information on a computer, the storage stage in the information-processing model of memory involves the retention and organization of information for later use.

Question 6

The term __________ memory is often used, albeit incorrectly, to refer to eidetic imagery.
A) photographic
B) episodic
C) reconstructed
D) affective

Accepted Answer

The term photographic memory is often used to refer to highly accurate and detailed recall of information, as if one had taken a photograph of it. However, this is not entirely accurate, as true photographic memory is a rare phenomenon in which individuals can recall images with extreme accuracy and detail, including details that were not consciously noted at the time of encoding. Eidetic imagery, on the other hand, refers to the ability to vividly imagine and recall visual images, but it is not necessarily the same as photographic memory.

Question 7

A time machine provides you the opportunity to interview Sigmund Freud. During the interview, Freud admits that he never wanted to attend medical school. When you ask him how he made it through, he says, "I had eidetic imagery." What does he mean by that?
A) He relied on the ability to associate odd images with material he needed to remember.
B) He had a photographic memory, which helped him remember the material he had to learn.
C) He was able to imagine how cells in a patient's body were acting when he prescribed drugs and, thus, he could adjust dosages.
D) In order to remember the long list of diseases he would encounter, he created drawings that helped him remember.

Accepted Answer

Eidetic imagery, also known as photographic memory, is a rare ability to vividly recall images or sounds with great accuracy and detail. Freud's statement implies that he was able to remember the vast amount of material he had to learn in medical school due to his photographic memory.

Question 8

Which of the following might be the most appropriate analogy for eidetic imagery?
A) a table
B) a modem
C) a rainbow
D) a photograph

Accepted Answer

Eidetic imagery is often described as having a "photographic memory," as individuals with this ability can recall images with incredible detail and accuracy. Therefore, a photograph is the most appropriate analogy for eidetic imagery.

Question 9

In the partial report method of Sperling's study of sensory memory, the participants were to report __________.
A) one of three lines of letters as indicated by the sound of a tone immediately presented after the letters had disappeared
B) only one or two of the letters in the cued line
C) the first letter of each line only
D) the middle letter of each line

Accepted Answer

Sperling's partial report method involved participants being asked to report one of three lines of letters as indicated by the tone's pitch that was played immediately after the letters had disappeared, demonstrating the capacity and duration of sensory memory.

Question 10

Long ago, during the early days of television, when a television set was turned off it took a while for the last image that was on the screen to fade away. This phenomenon is most like __________ memory.
A) iconic
B) echoic
C) short-term
D) long-term

Accepted Answer

Iconic memory refers to visual sensory memory, which holds an image in our visual system for a brief period after the stimulus is removed. The phenomenon described in the question matches the characteristics of iconic memory.

Question 11

In the information-processing model of memory, the process of encoding would be analogous to which part of a modern computer?
A) a memory stick (or thumb drive)
B) a central processing unit
C) a wireless mouse and keyboard
D) a flat panel monitor

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the information-processing model of memory, the...

Question 12

Meg looks up from her lunch, realizing that Parker has just said something to her. What was it? Oh, yes, he has just asked her if she wants to go to the movies. Meg's ability to retrieve what Parker said is due to her __________ memory.
A) iconic
B) echoic
C) short-term
D) tactile

Accepted Answer

Echoic memory is the sensory memory for auditory information, which lasts for a few seconds. It allows us to retain and retrieve what we have just heard, even if we were not actively paying attention at the time. In this case, Meg was able to retrieve Parker's question about going to the movies, likely because it was still in her echoic memory.

Question 13

Iconic memory is to echoic memory as __________.
A) implicit is to explicit
B) auditory is to visual
C) visual is to auditory
D) quick is to slow

Accepted Answer

Iconic memory refers to the visual sensory memory, whereas echoic memory refers to the auditory sensory memory.

Question 14

Which memory system provides us with a very brief representation of all the stimuli present at a particular moment?
A) primary memory
B) sensory memory
C) long-term memory
D) short-term memory

Accepted Answer

Sensory memory is the memory system that provides us with a very brief representation of all the stimuli present at a particular moment. It is responsible for briefly holding sensory information to allow for further processing.

Question 15

The key to the partial report method of Sperling's study of sensory memory was to __________.
A) have the participants report the entire matrix of letters they saw as fast as they could
B) have the participants report the entire matrix of letters but mask the letters after the presentation with a very bright light
C) cue the participants, using a tone, as to which line of the matrix they were to report
D) test the use of chunking

Accepted Answer

The key to the partial report method in Sperling's study was to cue the participants, using a tone, as to which line of the matrix they were to report. This allowed researchers to study the capacity and duration of sensory memory by manipulating the time delay between the presentation of the stimuli and the cue for which line to report.

Question 16

Using the partial report method, Sperling found the capacity of iconic memory to be around __________.
A) four or five items
B) nine or ten items
C) all the letters present
D) one to two items

Accepted Answer

Sperling's partial report method demonstrated that the capacity of iconic memory (visual sensory memory) is quite large, essentially capturing all the letters present in a briefly flashed array, but this information fades very quickly.

Question 17

The fleeting images we see as we look out the car window occur in __________ memory.
A) sensory
B) short-term
C) semantic
D) working

Accepted Answer

Sensory memory is responsible for processing and briefly holding incoming sensory information from various senses such as seeing, hearing, feeling etc. The fleeting images we see while looking out the car window are a result of this sensory memory.

Question 18

The term photographic memory is often used, albeit incorrectly, to refer to __________.
A) affective memory
B) episodic memory
C) reconstructed memory
D) eidetic imagery

Accepted Answer

Eidetic imagery, also known as photographic memory, refers to the ability to vividly recall images or information with great accuracy and detail. It is a rare phenomenon and often misunderstood as having the ability to remember everything perfectly. Affective memory refers to memories that are emotionally charged, while episodic memory refers to autobiographical memories of specific events. Reconstructed memory refers to memories that have been altered or influenced by outside information or suggestions.

Question 19

Why did research participants in Sperling's experiment recall so few letters stored in sensory memory?
A) They stopped paying attention after a few stimuli.
B) Proactive interference reduced the effectiveness of recall.
C) The stress of participating in this research became excessive.
D) The remaining stimuli quickly faded from sensory memory.

Accepted Answer

Sensory memory has a limited duration and capacity, and the stimuli stored in sensory memory quickly fades away if not attended to and transferred to working memory. Thus, the research participants recalled only a small fraction of the stimuli presented by Sperling because the remaining stimuli quickly faded from sensory memory.

Question 20

Which type of memory allows us to have meaningful conversations?
A) iconic memory
B) echoic memory
C) distributed memory
D) procedural memory

Accepted Answer

Echoic memory is a type of sensory memory that allows individuals to retain auditory information for short periods, enabling the processing necessary for understanding and responding in conversations.

Quiz 6: Memory

A display of 12 letters is flashed on a screen in front of you followed by a tone. You attempt to recall a portion of the display based on the specific tone you heard. Which aspect of your memory is this experiment designed to assess?

One problem with relying on eidetic imagery to study for tests is that __________.

You are out for a drive with the family and are lucky enough to get a window seat. The rapidly passing scenery you see out the window is first stored in __________ memory.

What is one of the real-world uses of iconic storage?

In the information-processing model of memory, the process of storage would be analogous to which part of a modern computer?

The term __________ memory is often used, albeit incorrectly, to refer to eidetic imagery.

A time machine provides you the opportunity to interview Sigmund Freud. During the interview, Freud admits that he never wanted to attend medical school. When you ask him how he made it through, he says, "I had eidetic imagery." What does he mean by that?

Which of the following might be the most appropriate analogy for eidetic imagery?

In the partial report method of Sperling's study of sensory memory, the participants were to report __________.

Long ago, during the early days of television, when a television set was turned off it took a while for the last image that was on the screen to fade away. This phenomenon is most like __________ memory.

In the information-processing model of memory, the process of encoding would be analogous to which part of a modern computer?

Meg looks up from her lunch, realizing that Parker has just said something to her. What was it? Oh, yes, he has just asked her if she wants to go to the movies. Meg's ability to retrieve what Parker said is due to her __________ memory.

Iconic memory is to echoic memory as __________.

Which memory system provides us with a very brief representation of all the stimuli present at a particular moment?

The key to the partial report method of Sperling's study of sensory memory was to __________.

Using the partial report method, Sperling found the capacity of iconic memory to be around __________.

The fleeting images we see as we look out the car window occur in __________ memory.

The term photographic memory is often used, albeit incorrectly, to refer to __________.

Why did research participants in Sperling's experiment recall so few letters stored in sensory memory?

Which type of memory allows us to have meaningful conversations?