Question 1

Which model of memory is most similar in conceptualization to the way computers function?

Accepted Answer

The information-processing model of memory is the most similar to the way computers function because it sees memory as involving input, processing, and output. Much like how a computer takes in information, encodes it, and then outputs the processed data, the information-processing model of memory suggests that we take in sensory information, encode it in different ways (visual, acoustic, etc.), process it by storing it in short- or long-term memory, and retrieve it when needed. This model treats the human mind like a computer, where memory is seen as a series of systems that work together to store and retrieve information.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

The key to the partial report method of 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 determining how much information participants could recall from each cued line before the memory faded.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

In the partial report method, participants were asked to report one of three lines of letters as indicated by the sound of a tone immediately presented after the letters had disappeared. They were not asked to report specific letters within the lines or use color as a cue. Therefore, option A is the correct choice.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

Sperling's partial report method demonstrated that iconic memory can hold all the items seen at one time, but the information fades quickly, making it difficult to report all items without a cue.

Question 5

_____________ is retention of memory for some period of time.

Accepted Answer

Storage refers to the process of retaining information for some period of time, which can then be retrieved later. Encoding is the process of taking in information and converting it into a format that can be stored. Retrieval is the process of accessing stored information when needed. Evaluation refers to the process of making judgments or assessments about information.

Question 6

Shaquin finished his term paper and handed it in.As he walked out of the classroom,he realized that there were a few more things he should have included in the paper.Shaquin experienced a problem with the __________ component of memory.

Accepted Answer

Shaquin's problem is with retrieval, as he is unable to access the information he thinks he should have included in his term paper, even though it is stored in his memory. Encoding refers to the process of transforming information into a form that can be stored in memory, storage is the process of retaining information over time, and retention refers to the ability to keep information in memory long-term.

Question 7

The three parts of the information-processing model of memory are:

Accepted Answer

The three parts of the information-processing model of memory are sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory. Sensory memory is the initial stage where information is received through our senses, short-term memory is where we temporarily hold and manipulate information, and long-term memory is where information is stored for an extended period of time.

Question 8

Which of the following statements is true about retrieval?

Accepted Answer

Retrieval is the process of accessing or getting stored memories back out into conscious awareness. This is different from encoding, which is the process of putting information into memory, and storage, which is the process of keeping information in memory. Therefore, option B is the correct statement about retrieval.

Question 9

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.

Accepted Answer

Iconic memory is the sensory memory that retains visual information for a very brief period of time, usually less than half a second. The phenomenon described in the question, where the last image on a television screen takes time to fade away, is similar to the characteristics of iconic memory.

Question 10

The processes of encoding,storage,and retrieval are seen as part of the ____________ model of memory.

Accepted Answer

The processes of encoding, storage, and retrieval are all components of the information-processing model of memory. This model compares the way we process, store, and retrieve information to the way a computer does with its input, output, and storage functions.

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

Sensory memory is very short-lived, usually less than a second, which means that the stimuli stored in sensory memory quickly fade away if they are not transferred to short-term memory through attention and rehearsal. Therefore, the participants in Sperling's experiment could only recall a few letters before the remaining stimuli faded away from sensory memory.

Question 12

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?

Accepted Answer

Eidetic imagery refers to photographic memory, which would have helped Freud remember the material he needed to learn in medical school.

Question 13

When people hear a sound,their ears turn the vibrations in the air into neural messages from the auditory nerve,which makes it possible for the brain to make sense of the sound.This process is called:

Accepted Answer

Encoding is the process of converting sensory input into a form that can be processed and understood by the brain, which is what happens when sound vibrations are turned into neural messages.

Question 14

Janie is taking an exam in her history class.On the exam there is a question that asks her to state and discuss the five major causes of the Trans-Caspian War (whatever that was!).Janie remembers four of them.She knows there is a fifth,but time is up.As Janie is walking down the stairs,all of a sudden,she remembers the fifth point,but it is too late.Janie had a problem with:

Accepted Answer

Janie had successfully encoded and stored the information, since she remembered four out of the five causes. Her problem was with retrieval, as she was unable to recall the fifth point during the exam.

Question 15

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

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 holds sensory information for a very short period, typically less than one second for visual information and a few seconds for auditory information.

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

Eidetic imagery refers to the ability to vividly recall visual images in great detail. A photograph is a similar representation of visual images that captures details and can be recalled vividly.

Question 17

The first step in the memory process is _____________ information in a form that the memory system can use.

Accepted Answer

The first step in the memory process is encoding, which involves taking in information and converting it into a format that can be processed and stored in the memory system.

Question 18

When someone looks at an image,the retina turns the light rays from it into neural messages that go up to the optic nerve so the brain can interpret them.This function is called:

Accepted Answer

Encoding is the process of transforming external information into a neural code that can be processed and stored in the brain. When someone looks at an image, the retina encodes the light rays into neural messages that travel up to the brain via the optic nerve. The brain then interprets these messages to create a visual perception of the image. Therefore, encoding is the correct function from the given options.

Question 19

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.What aspect of your memory is this experiment designed to assess?

Accepted Answer

This experiment is designed to assess sensory memory, specifically the iconic memory, which is a part of sensory memory that deals with visual information. The tone helps to cue which part of the visual display to recall, demonstrating the brief retention of sensory information.

Question 20

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.

Accepted Answer

Iconic memory refers specifically to the sensory memory of visual information. As the scenery passing by is visual information, it would be stored in iconic memory. Echoic memory refers specifically to the sensory memory of auditory information, and working memory and short-term memory are more related to active thinking and the processing of information, rather than the initial storage of sensory input.

Quiz 6: Memory