Question 1

In H. M.'s surgery, the part of his brain responsible for laying down new memories was damaged beyond repair. The result was

Accepted Answer

H.M. suffered from anterograde amnesia, which means he was unable to form new memories after the surgery.

Question 2

In his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, Martin Luther King, Jr. shared his vision for improved race relations in America. According to research on autobiographical memories, this speech indicates that Dr. King should be classified as an individual whose self-defining memories

Accepted Answer

Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech indicates that he is an individual whose self-defining memories go from bad to good, as he discusses the injustices faced by African Americans but also presents a vision for a future of improved race relations.

Question 3

The tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon is a type of

Accepted Answer

The tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon is a type of effortful retrieval where a person is temporarily unable to retrieve a word or name from memory, despite feeling that it is just out of reach.

Question 4

According to decay theory, memories fade because

Accepted Answer

Decay theory posits that memories fade over time due to a neurochemical "memory trace" disintegrating, or decaying, over time. This suggests that the passage of time causes the physical representation of a memory to gradually weaken, eventually leading to its loss or degradation.

Question 5

Shauna is an excellent student. She rewrites her class notes after each class. Rewriting her notes is a form of memory

Accepted Answer

Rewriting notes is a form of rehearsal, which involves actively practicing and repeating information in order to better encode it into long-term memory. This improves retention and recall of the material.

Question 6

A few years ago, you had a boyfriend named Phil. Now, you have a new boyfriend named Stephen. Because of ________, you sometimes call Stephen by the wrong name.

Accepted Answer

Proactive interference occurs when old memories interfere with the recall of new information, such as calling a new boyfriend by an old boyfriend's name.

Question 7

You are taking both Spanish and French this semester. As you study the vocabulary words for your French test, you realize that the French words are disrupting the memory of the Spanish vocabulary words you studied last week. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

Proactive interference occurs when previously learned information interferes with the ability to remember new information. In this case, the French vocabulary words are interfering with the ability to remember the Spanish vocabulary words learned previously. The other options listed are not applicable to this scenario.

Question 8

Encoding failure occurs when

Accepted Answer

Encoding failure refers to the failure to process information into long-term memory. It is not necessarily related to motivation, and is distinct from proactive interference, which occurs when previously learned information interferes with the encoding of new information. Therefore, the correct answer is C, as encoding failure occurs when information was never entered into long-term memory.

Question 9

A soap opera character who had a major head trauma cannot remember any post-injury people or events, but his memory for people and events prior to his injury is perfect. Is this fictional tale possible in the real world?

Accepted Answer

Anterograde amnesia is the loss of the ability to create new memories after the event that caused the amnesia, while old memories can be relatively intact. This fits the description of the soap opera character's condition. Retrograde amnesia is the loss of access to memories formed before an event, while memories formed after the event are relatively intact. The other options are incorrect; there is evidence of amnesia involving new events, the condition described on the soap opera is a type of amnesia, and so on.

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT a study tip that focuses on the encoding process?

Accepted Answer

Testing yourself is more related to retrieval practice rather than the encoding process.

Question 11

Both of Suzie's parents suffered from Alzheimer's disease before they died. Although still in her early 40s, Suzie is very concerned about her own cognitive functioning. What advice can you give her based what you know about the science of memory?

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that engaging in challenging cognitive tasks, such as reading, learning a new skill, or solving puzzles, can help maintain cognitive functioning and even slow down the onset of Alzheimer's disease. It is important for Suzie to challenge her brain through such activities to potentially reduce the risk of cognitive decline.

Question 12

Sam tells her friend, Ava, that she should use imagery when studying. Ava should use Sam's tip when she is focusing on

Accepted Answer

Imagery is a mnemonic strategy that helps to aid encoding, which is the process of transferring information into the memory storage system. By creating a mental image of the information being studied, Ava can better remember and retain the information. Retrieval, organization, and rehearsal are all processes that occur after the information has been encoded, so using imagery would not have as significant of an impact on those processes.

Question 13

While waiting for the police to arrive after an armed robbery, the store manager and all of the customers want to make sure that they give an accurate account of the robbery so they decide upon the relevant details to tell police. What is a likely outcome of this collaborative sharing of information?

Accepted Answer

Collaborative sharing of information among eyewitnesses can lead to increased similarity in their accounts, sometimes to the degree of creating false memories through social influence. However, it does not necessarily guarantee accuracy, recognition, or solving the crime.

Question 14

Jillian used to be fluent in Spanish, but has since learned to speak French. She now finds it difficult to remember much of her Spanish. She is experiencing ________ interference.

Accepted Answer

Retroactive interference occurs when learning new information interferes with the recall of previously learned information. In this case, learning French has interfered with Jillian's ability to recall her previously fluent Spanish.

Question 15

People who describe life experiences as going from bad to better are ________ than people who describe life experiences as going from good to bad.

Accepted Answer

People who describe life experiences as going from bad to better are considered better adjusted because they have faced and overcome adversity, which can lead to personal growth and resilience. On the other hand, people who describe life experiences as going from good to bad may have a harder time coping with challenges and setbacks.

Question 16

The adage most appropriate to memory function and aging is

Accepted Answer

The phrase "Use it or lose it" is often used in relation to memory function and aging. It suggests that engaging in activities that challenge the brain, such as puzzles or learning new skills, can help maintain cognitive function and prevent memory decline with age.

Question 17

A person suffering from anterograde amnesia will

Accepted Answer

Anterograde amnesia is characterized by the inability to form new memories following the onset of the condition, while past memories remain intact.

Question 18

According to Hermann Ebbinghaus,

Accepted Answer

According to Hermann Ebbinghaus, most forgetting occurs soon after we originally learned something.

Question 19

You have an important meeting with your advisor right after your English class on Tuesday. This event is stored in your ________ memory.

Accepted Answer

Prospective memory refers to remembering to perform a planned action or activity in the future, such as attending a meeting with an advisor. Retrospective memory, on the other hand, involves remembering information and events from the past. Proactive and retroactive are not related to memory systems.

Question 20

According to research on memory, individuals who describe important life experiences from a redemptive perspective are more

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that individuals who describe important life experiences from a redemptive perspective are more generative, meaning they are more likely to find meaning in their experiences and use them as a source of motivation to help others.

Quiz 7: Memory