Question 1

You are taking a biology class. During lecture, you listen, take notes, and think about how the information is related to you. These are examples of _____ information into memory. When you rehearse this information, you are facilitating _____. During a test, you must remember the information, which is called _____.

Accepted Answer

Encoding is the process of taking in information and relating it to oneself. Rehearsing helps with storage, and recalling information during a test is retrieval.

Question 2

The ability to store and retrieve information over time is called:

Accepted Answer

The ability to store and retrieve information over time is commonly referred to as memory. While preservation, elaboration, and storage are all related concepts, they do not fully capture the complexity of memory.

Question 3

Memories are:

Accepted Answer

Memories are not simply recorded like a video, but are constructed by the brain based on a combination of past experiences, current context, and individual interpretation.

Question 4

Your friend tells you her phone number. Hearing, thinking about, and translating the phone number to place it in your memory is an example of which process?

Accepted Answer

Encoding is the process of taking in information from the environment and placing it into our memory system. In this scenario, hearing and thinking about the phone number is the process of encoding it into our memory.

Question 5

_____ is the process of maintaining information in memory over time.

Accepted Answer

Storage refers to the process of maintaining information in memory over time. Memory refers to the overall cognitive process of encoding, storing, and retrieving information. Encoding involves the initial processing of information to be stored, while retrieval involves accessing and using stored information when needed.

Question 6

Semantic encoding is related to an increase of activity in which brain regions?

Accepted Answer

Semantic encoding is related to an increase of activity in the lower left frontal lobe and the inner part of the left temporal lobe. This is because the left hemisphere of the brain is primarily responsible for language processing and semantic memory retrieval. The temporal lobe is also involved in memory formation and retrieval, particularly for episodic and semantic memory.

Question 7

Storing information by converting it into mental pictures is known as:

Accepted Answer

Visual imagery encoding involves storing information by converting it into mental pictures. This type of encoding has been shown to enhance memory retrieval compared to other encoding strategies such as semantic or organizational encoding. Photographic encoding is similar, but is more specific to remembering exact details like colors and shapes. Semantic encoding involves relating information to preexisting knowledge or concepts. Organizational encoding involves categorizing information based on its relationships to other pieces of information. Among all of these encoding strategies, visual imagery encoding is the best choice for storing information as mental pictures.

Question 8

Janet uses semantic judgment in encoding new terms encountered in her sociology class. MRI studies reveal that the part of her brain likely to be most active during this process is the:

Accepted Answer

The left temporal lobe is responsible for language comprehension, including semantic processing, which involves understanding the meaning of words and concepts. Encoding new terms in Janet's sociology class would require semantic processing, making the left temporal lobe the most likely candidate for the most active part of her brain during this process.

Question 9

You learned French in high school 10 years ago. You travel to Paris, and at the airport a customs officer asks you a question in French. You recall the correct answer from your study of the language and answer the officer. This is an example of which function of memory?

Accepted Answer

Retrieval refers to the process of recalling information from memory, which is exactly what is happening in this scenario. The individual is retrieving information they learned in the past and using it in the present situation.

Question 10

Actively relating new information in a meaningful way to knowledge already in memory is the definition of _____ encoding.

Accepted Answer

Semantic encoding involves the active processing of new information in relation to knowledge already stored in memory, based on its meaning and significance. It involves interpreting, elaborating, and organizing new information in a meaningful way, which helps to enhance its retention and retrieval. Visual encoding involves the processing and storing of information based on its physical characteristics and sensory features, such as color, shape, and texture. Meaning-based encoding (also known as deep processing or elaborative rehearsal) involves linking new information to existing knowledge through associations, imagery, or personal relevance. Organizational encoding involves categorizing and grouping information based on its logical structure and relationships, such as lists or hierarchies. While all these forms of encoding can contribute to memory storage and retrieval, semantic encoding is considered to be the most effective for creating long-lasting and meaningful memories.

Question 11

Jorge uses semantic judgment in encoding new terms encountered in his biology class. MRI studies reveal that the part of his brain likely to be most active during this process is the:

Accepted Answer

The frontal lobe is responsible for higher cognitive functions such as judgment, decision making, and encoding of new information. Therefore, it is likely to be most active during semantic judgment in encoding new terms encountered in Jorge's biology class. The amygdala is associated with emotions and fear, the parietal lobe with sensory information processing, and the hypothalamus with regulating bodily functions such as hunger and thirst, making them less likely to be the most active during this process.

Question 12

While cramming for a psychology exam, Hannah finds that if she thinks about the meaning of terms and tries to use them in examples, she learns them much better. What technique is Hannah using to improve her memory of the terms?

Accepted Answer

Hannah is using semantic judgments, which involves processing information at a deeper level by focusing on its meaning and making connections with other information. This technique has been shown to improve long-term memory retention.

Question 13

When Paul studies for a psychology test, he tries to remember important terms by relating them to his past experiences and knowledge. He is using the strategy of:

Accepted Answer

Semantic encoding refers to encoding information based on its meaning. Paul is relating the new information (important terms) to his past experiences and knowledge, which is a way of associating the new information with meaning. This is an example of semantic encoding. Visual imagery encoding involves forming mental images of information, organization encoding involves grouping information into categories, and chunking involves breaking information into smaller chunks to aid in memory. These strategies are not mentioned in the scenario provided.

Question 14

The most effective form of encoding appears to be linking new information to:

Accepted Answer

Linking new information to other knowledge already in memory helps to create strong connections and associations, making it easier to retrieve and remember the information later on. This method, known as elaborative encoding, involves actively engaging with the information and connecting it to pre-existing knowledge, which enhances learning and retention. Option A may be effective for short-term memory but not for long-term memory, while option B is more effective for simple, easily recalled information rather than complex concepts. Option D refers to sensory memory rather than encoding, which is the process of initially learning and storing information.

Question 15

Which type of judgment has research shown results in better memory for words?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that semantic judgments, which involve thinking about the meaning of a word, lead to better memory for words compared to judgments based on visual or rhyme characteristics. Mnemonics can be helpful for memory, but they are not a type of judgment.

Question 16

Memories are made by:

Accepted Answer

Memories are not exact duplicates of perceptual experiences, but rather a combination of existing information in the brain with new information from our senses. This combination then forms a new memory. Memories are also not simply recordings of sensory information, as they are subject to interpretation and processing by the brain. The hippocampus is involved in the formation and retrieval of memories, but it does not create exact duplicates of perceptual experiences.

Question 17

The process of bringing to mind information that has been previously encoded and stored in memory is known as:

Accepted Answer

Retrieval is the process of bringing stored information into conscious awareness. This can occur through various means, such as recall, recognition, or relearning. Encoding refers to the initial process of putting information into memory and storage refers to the maintenance of that information over time.

Question 18

The process by which we transform what we perceive, think, or feel into an enduring memory is called:

Accepted Answer

The process of transforming information into a memory is called encoding. This is the first step in the memory process, where information is translated into a form that can be stored and later retrieved.

Question 19

Making a new memory is analogous to:

Accepted Answer

Creating a new memory involves altering existing neural connections and forming new ones, similar to altering a recipe to create a new dish.

Question 20

When learning a new word, like "amygdala," Angie will remember it best if she:

Accepted Answer

Thinking about what the word means is a form of elaborative rehearsal, which is a more effective way to remember new information than simple repetition or visual aids like writing the word in large block letters. Rhyming and visualizing the word may help with initial encoding, but elaborative rehearsal will lead to better long-term retention.

Quiz 6: Section 2: Memory