Question 1

The method of loci is ________.
A) a mnemonic for memorizing very long numbers
B) a method for rapid forgetting
C) a mnemonic that involves repeated rehearsals in different physical locations
D) a mnemonic that involves visualizing to-be-remembered images at different mental locations along a well-known path

Accepted Answer

The method of loci, also known as the memory palace technique, involves visualizing items to be remembered in specific locations along a familiar route or place in your mind. This technique leverages spatial memory to enhance the recall of information.

Question 2

The performance of memory athletes is the result of ________.
A) generalized superior talent from the very beginning
B) learning a mnemonic skill and practising it
C) much higher digit span even in everyday life
D) being more able to remember a list of random items than anyone else

Accepted Answer

Memory athletes often achieve their high level of performance through learning specific mnemonic techniques and rigorously practicing them, rather than possessing an innate superior talent or having a naturally higher digit span.

Question 3

"Natural memory" for the method of loci is ________.
A) memory before starting to use the method of loci
B) the mnemonic result of the method of loci
C) memory that is the product of art and can be naturally strengthened by training
D) memory that is embedded in our minds and cannot be strengthened

Accepted Answer

D

Question 4

According to the method of loci, backgrounds should themselves have ________.
A) as many features of interest as possible and images should also be highly detailed and unique and should contain as much information as possible
B) few features of interest while images, unlike backgrounds, should be highly detailed and unique and should contain as much information as possible
C) few features of interest and images, much like backgrounds, should display as little information as possible
D) as many features of interest as possible while images should display as little information as possible

Accepted Answer

The method of loci relies on using memorable backgrounds with few features of interest to avoid distraction, while the images placed within these backgrounds should be highly detailed and unique to enhance memorability.

Question 5

A memory palace is ________.
A) a modern research centre specialized with memory
B) in ancient times, the temple where people worshipped the goddess of memory
C) in ancient times, the special building in which scholars practised their mnemonic skills
D) an imagined location used in the method of loci

Accepted Answer

A memory palace, also known as the method of loci, is a mnemonic device that involves imagining a place you know well and using it as a spatial framework for recalling information.

Question 6

The method of loci can be used without any other mnemonic devices if the to-be-remembered material is easy to visualize but, when the material involves ________, a memorizer must employ a system that converts ________ that can be placed in a memory palace.
A) an emotion; this into a number
B) a piece of music; this into a number
C) digits; the number into an image
D) digits; the number into a special and easy to remember number

Accepted Answer

The method of loci involves placing images that represent the to-be-remembered items in specific locations within a mental image of a spatial layout. When the material involves digits, a memorizer must convert these digits into images that can be placed in a memory palace, making option C correct.

Question 7

The major system for memorizing long numbers involves creating ________.
A) easy-to-remember numbers based on specific phonemes associated with each digit
B) emotions based on specific phonemes associated with each digit
C) images based on specific phonemes associated with each digit
D) actions based on specific phonemes associated with each digit

Accepted Answer

The major system for memorizing long numbers involves creating images based on specific phonemes associated with each digit, making it easier to remember sequences of numbers by visualizing a series of images.

Question 8

The person-object-action (PAO) system for memorizing long numbers involves ________.
A) developing complex images associated with pairs of digits ahead of time
B) creating complex actions based on specific phonemes associated with each digit
C) developing complex emotions based on specific phonemes associated with each digit
D) creating easy-to-remember numbers based on specific phonemes associated with each digit

Accepted Answer

The PAO system involves developing complex images associated with pairs of digits ahead of time, where each set of digits is represented by a unique combination of a person, an object, and an action.

Question 9

The ________ associates digits with distinct phonemes. The phonemes can then be combined with vowels to form words.
A) person-object-action system
B) major system
C) method of loci
D) model of skill acquisition proposed by Fitts and Posner (1967)

Accepted Answer

The major system is a mnemonic technique that associates numbers with sounds, allowing for the encoding of numerical information into words by combining these sounds with vowels. This makes it easier to remember numbers by converting them into more memorable words or phrases.

Question 10

The major system is rarely if ever used by present-day memory athletes. The PAO system is preferred because ________ and there is no awkward translation step.
A) it avoids using highly unusual (and therefore difficult to remember) numbers
B) it uses highly unusual (and therefore highly memorable) sounds
C) it avoids using highly unusual (and therefore difficult to remember) images
D) it uses highly unusual (and therefore highly memorable) images

Accepted Answer

The answer of The major system is rarely if ever...

Question 11

Noice (1992) recruited stage actors, provided them with a script, and asked them to record their thought process. First, ________. Second, ________.
A) all the actors reported trying to learn the script by rote memorization immediately; all of the actors reported that they avoided understanding the motivations of the different characters
B) none of the actors reported trying to learn the script by rote memorization; all of the actors reported that they avoided understanding the motivations of the different characters
C) all the actors reported trying to learn the script by rote memorization immediately; all of the actors reported that they read the script many times to understand the motivations of the different characters
D) none of the actors reported trying to learn the script by rote memorization; all of the actors reported that they read the script many times to understand the motivations of the different characters

Accepted Answer

Noice's study found that actors did not rely on rote memorization to learn their lines. Instead, they focused on understanding the script and characters' motivations through repeated readings, which helped them internalize the material more effectively.

Question 12

According to skilled memory theory by Chase and Ericsson (1981), exceptional memory can develop in any individual when three principles are followed. The principles proposed in their theory do not include ________.
A) the encoding principle
B) the retrieval-structure principle
C) the non-interference principle
D) the speed-up principle

Accepted Answer

The skilled memory theory by Chase and Ericsson includes the encoding principle, the retrieval-structure principle, and the speed-up principle, but does not include the non-interference principle.

Question 13

Maguire et al. (2000) studied the brains of highly experienced taxi drivers who know the location of 25,000 London streets and more than 1000 landmarks and found that the ________ of experienced taxi drivers were significantly larger than normal controls.
A) posterior hippocampal regions
B) anterior hippocampal regions
C) occipital cortical areas
D) prefrontal cortical areas

Accepted Answer

Maguire et al. (2000) found that the posterior hippocampal regions of experienced taxi drivers were significantly larger than those of normal controls, suggesting that navigating the complex layout of London streets might lead to changes in brain structure.

Question 14

Maguire et al. (2003) found, when comparing superior memorizers with controls, ________.
A) a significant difference in reasoning skills, in visual memory scores and in working/long-term verbal memory
B) no difference in reasoning skills and in visual memory scores, but they differed in working/long-term verbal memory
C) no difference in reasoning skills, in visual memory scores and in working/long-term verbal memory
D) a significant difference in reasoning skills and in visual memory scores, but they did not differ in working/long-term verbal memory

Accepted Answer

Maguire et al. (2003) found no significant differences in reasoning skills and visual memory scores between superior memorizers and control participants, but they did find differences in working/long-term verbal memory.

Question 15

Maguire et al. (2003) compared brain activity during the encoding of visual stimuli of digits, faces, or snowflakes. When they analyzed the fMRI data, they found that superior memorizers (SMs) had increased activity ________ where performance of the SMs was the same as performance of controls.
A) in the occipital cortex and anterior hippocampus, even during the snowflake task
B) in the medial parietal cortex, retrosplenial cortex, and right posterior hippocampus, even during the snowflake task
C) in the occipital cortex and anterior hippocampus, but only during the snowflake task
D) in the medial parietal cortex, retrosplenial cortex, and right posterior hippocampus, but only during the snowflake task

Accepted Answer

Maguire et al. (2003) found that superior memorizers had increased activity in the medial parietal cortex, retrosplenial cortex, and right posterior hippocampus, even during tasks where their performance matched that of control participants, such as the snowflake task. This suggests that the brain regions involved are not task-specific but rather are generally engaged during memory tasks by individuals with superior memory abilities.

Question 16

One reason the method of loci works is because people are extremely good at remembering ________.
A) strings of meaningful words
B) strings of meaningful dates,
C) spatial and visual information
D) explicit memories
E) e.g. important dates, ages etc.

Accepted Answer

The method of loci, also known as the memory palace technique, leverages our innate ability to remember spatial and visual information. By associating the information to be remembered with specific locations in a familiar place, we can recall it more easily.

Question 17

One reason the method of loci works is the ________.
A) private nature of images used allows people to make images highly memorable by making them humorous, salacious, or disgusting
B) fact that it has been refined over the ages
C) highly competitive nature of the games in which it is used
D) fact that it is typically used by people with genetic predisposition to strong memory

Accepted Answer

The method of loci works effectively because it leverages vivid, often private imagery that can be humorous, salacious, or disgusting, making the memorized items more memorable and easier to recall.

Question 18

In addition to maximizing the strengths and minimizing the weaknesses of long-term memory, mnemonics also work by ________.
A) increasing working-memory load
B) reducing working-memory load
C) reducing long-term memory load
D) reducing attentional load

Accepted Answer

Mnemonics work by reducing working-memory load, making it easier to encode and retrieve information from long-term memory.

Question 19

The testing effect refers to the finding that ________ produces better retention than ________ for an equivalent amount of time.
A) re-reading the same information; repeated memory retrieval
B) repeated memory retrieval; re-reading the same information
C) repeated memory retrieval; sleeping
D) sleeping; repeated memory retrieval

Accepted Answer

The testing effect is the phenomenon where long-term memory is increased when some of the learning period is devoted to retrieving the to-be-remembered information through testing with proper feedback. This effect shows that repeated memory retrieval (e.g., through testing or practice quizzes) leads to better retention of information over time compared to passive study strategies like re-reading the same material.

Question 20

According to Karpicke and Roediger's (2008) study on the testing effect, participants who practised retrieving word pairs recalled ________ than participants who did not practise. Further, participants who were given extra time to study the word pairs ________.
A) significantly more; did not perform better
B) significantly less; did not perform better
C) significantly more; performed even better
D) significantly less; performed even better

Accepted Answer

Karpicke and Roediger's (2008) study found that participants who practiced retrieving word pairs recalled significantly more than those who did not practice. Additionally, giving participants extra time to study the word pairs did not lead to better performance, highlighting the effectiveness of retrieval practice over additional study time.

Quiz 14: Exceptional Memory, Mnemonics, and Expertise

The method of loci is ________.

The performance of memory athletes is the result of ________.

"Natural memory" for the method of loci is ________.

According to the method of loci, backgrounds should themselves have ________.

A memory palace is ________.

The method of loci can be used without any other mnemonic devices if the to-be-remembered material is easy to visualize but, when the material involves , a memorizer must employ a system that converts that can be placed in a memory palace.

The major system for memorizing long numbers involves creating ________.

The person-object-action (PAO) system for memorizing long numbers involves ________.

The ________ associates digits with distinct phonemes. The phonemes can then be combined with vowels to form words.

The major system is rarely if ever used by present-day memory athletes. The PAO system is preferred because ________ and there is no awkward translation step.

Noice (1992) recruited stage actors, provided them with a script, and asked them to record their thought process. First, . Second, .

According to skilled memory theory by Chase and Ericsson (1981) , exceptional memory can develop in any individual when three principles are followed. The principles proposed in their theory do not include ________.

Maguire et al. (2000) studied the brains of highly experienced taxi drivers who know the location of 25,000 London streets and more than 1000 landmarks and found that the ________ of experienced taxi drivers were significantly larger than normal controls.

Maguire et al. (2003) found, when comparing superior memorizers with controls, ________.

Maguire et al. (2003) compared brain activity during the encoding of visual stimuli of digits, faces, or snowflakes. When they analyzed the fMRI data, they found that superior memorizers (SMs) had increased activity ________ where performance of the SMs was the same as performance of controls.

One reason the method of loci works is because people are extremely good at remembering ________.

One reason the method of loci works is the ________.

In addition to maximizing the strengths and minimizing the weaknesses of long-term memory, mnemonics also work by ________.

The testing effect refers to the finding that produces better retention than for an equivalent amount of time.

According to Karpicke and Roediger's (2008) study on the testing effect, participants who practised retrieving word pairs recalled than participants who did not practise. Further, participants who were given extra time to study the word pairs .