Question 1

Cognitive psychologists believe that humans are capable of engaging in "parallel processing." This means that humans can

Accepted Answer

Parallel processing refers to the ability to carry out several mental activities at the same time. This is supported by research in cognitive psychology, which has shown that humans are capable of performing multiple tasks simultaneously, such as talking on the phone while driving a car.

Question 2

Which is the best example of a semantic memory?

Accepted Answer

Semantic memory refers to the knowledge and understanding of general concepts and facts, such as knowing that the Beatles were a band. Option A involves specific information about Ringo Starr, while option B involves a personal memory. Option C is a procedural memory, which involves knowing how to do something rather than general knowledge or concepts. Therefore, option D is the best example of a semantic memory.

Question 3

Piaget argued that six-month-olds were incapable of imitating a mother who is intentionally opening her mouth very wide because infants

Accepted Answer

According to Piaget, infants at six months of age are not cognitively mature enough to mentally represent and imitate complex actions such as intentionally opening their mouths very wide. This lack of mental representation abilities makes it difficult for them to imitate such actions.

Question 4

Allison is attempting to recall the code number that she uses to unlock her high school locker. As she tries different combinations, a part of her consciously keeps track of the combinations of numbers she has already tried. Information-processing theorists would refer to this aspect of Allison's cognitive system as her

Accepted Answer

The executive control process is responsible for planning, monitoring, and revising goal-directed behavior. In this scenario, Allison is using her executive control process to keep track of the combinations she has already tried in order to achieve her goal of unlocking her locker. The other options, fuzzy-trace, sensory register, and implicit memory, are not as directly related to this specific task of tracking attempted combinations.

Question 5

The fact that some forms of amnesia destroy explicit memory but not implicit memory indicates that

Accepted Answer

The fact that some forms of amnesia destroy explicit memory but not implicit memory suggests that the two forms of memory operate independently of each other.

Question 6

Which is the best example of an episodic memory?

Accepted Answer

Episodic memory refers to our ability to recall specific events or experiences, including the time and place they occurred. Option C best exemplifies this as it involves recalling a specific event - the 21st birthday party - along with the context in which it happened. Options A, B, and D involve procedural memory (remembering how to do something) or semantic memory (remembering facts or information).

Question 7

Information-processing theorists use the term _____ to describe the part of the unique element of the cognitive system that plans and monitors problem-solving.

Accepted Answer

Executive control processes, also known as executive functions, refer to the cognitive processes that are responsible for planning, monitoring, inhibiting, and adjusting behavior in response to changing environments and task demands. These processes are involved in problem-solving, decision-making, and goal-directed behavior. Sensory registers refer to the initial stage of information processing where sensory information is briefly registered in the sensory memory. Fuzzy-traces refer to the more meaningful and gist-based representations of information in long-term memory. Implicit memory refers to the unconscious memory of skills and procedures, such as riding a bike or playing a musical instrument.

Question 8

Research on early infant ability to imitate (e.g., Meltzoff, 2004) has tended to assess the action of

Accepted Answer

Research on early infant ability to imitate by Meltzoff (2004) has specifically focused on infants' ability to stick out their tongue in response to an adult doing the same action, indicating that infants can imitate simple facial gestures shortly after birth.

Question 9

Problem solving is best defined as the use of _____ to achieve a goal.

Accepted Answer

Problem solving involves using information-processing systems to analyze a situation and develop a plan to achieve a goal. Unconscious motivators and operant conditioning are not directly related to problem solving, and a non-cognitive response does not involve the cognitive processes necessary for problem solving.

Question 10

The main purpose of the executive control processor is to

Accepted Answer

The executive control processor is responsible for planning and monitoring problem-solving, making choice D the best answer. While long-term memory and sensory input are important processes, they are not directly controlled by the executive control processor. The suppression of painful memories is also not a primary function of this processor.

Question 11

Carlos has experienced significant damage to his hippocampus (an area located in the medial temporal lobe). How would this most likely impact his memory?

Accepted Answer

The hippocampus plays a crucial role in the formation of new episodic memories. Damage to this region would likely result in difficulty creating new memories. Carlos may still be able to recall past events but would have difficulty forming new memories.

Question 12

Research has indicated that procedural memory is mediated by the straitum. This means that

Accepted Answer

The striatum is a part of the brain, indicating that the brain is involved in processing procedural memory.

Question 13

Which statement concerning memory is true?

Accepted Answer

Explicit memory, which involves conscious recall of information such as facts and events, does indeed increase in capacity from infancy through adulthood and then declines in older age. Implicit memory, on the other hand, involves unconscious recall of information, such as skills and procedures, and is generally considered to remain constant across the lifespan.

Question 14

In assessing his newborn son's cognitive ability, Cosmo waves his hand at the baby and watches to see if his son reacts by also waving his hand. Cosmo is using a(n) _____ technique to assess his son's abilities.

Accepted Answer

Cosmo is using imitation as a technique to assess his son's cognitive ability, as he is checking if his son responds by copying his own behavior. Implicit memory refers to unconscious memory, cued-recall involves providing hints or clues to remember something, and operant conditioning involves shaping behavior through rewards and punishments, none of which directly apply to Cosmo's action.

Question 15

Carlos's teacher tells the class that they should be sure to listen to an important announcement that is coming in on the school's intercom. Carlos, however, misses the message as he is focused on a fly that is crawling across his desk. Carlos's failure is best blamed on faulty

Accepted Answer

Carlos's failure to listen to the announcement is due to a lack of attention skills. He was distracted by the fly and did not focus on the message being delivered.

Question 16

Semantic memories are for

Accepted Answer

Semantic memories refer to general knowledge about the world, such as facts, concepts, and meanings, rather than specific events or personal experiences. They are not about how to perform actions. While some semantic memories may originate from early childhood experiences, they are not limited to this timeframe.

Question 17

Colette is participating in a research study. In the first phase of the study, she is shown a list of 20 French words. She is then asked to count backwards from 50 to 1 by threes. Colette is then asked to write down all of the French words she can remember. She has taken part in a study of _____ memory.

Accepted Answer

The study involves explicit memory because Colette is asked to consciously recall and write down the French words she was shown, which requires the use of explicit (or declarative) memory. This type of memory involves the intentional recall of factual information, experiences, and concepts.

Question 18

_____ memories always involve personal experiences.

Accepted Answer

Episodic memories are autobiographical memories that involve personal experiences and events, while procedural memories involve learned skills and habits. Implicit memories are non-conscious memories, and cued-recall is a memory retrieval technique.

Question 19

Implicit memory is to explicit memory as

Accepted Answer

Implicit memory refers to the unconscious memories that are automatically retrieved without conscious effort, whereas explicit memory refers to conscious memories that are intentionally retrieved. Therefore, the best comparison is between unintentional and deliberate, making choice A the correct answer.

Question 20

A researcher develops a test in which participants are first given a list of types of fruit that includes the words "grapes, bananas, apples, oranges, and cherries" and asked to identify which is the longest. A while later, they are given the word stem "ban_____" and are asked to complete the word as quickly as possible. When a participant fills out the word by writing "banana," he or she is exhibiting what is called a(n) _____ memory.

Accepted Answer

The participant's ability to complete the word “banana” based on the earlier exposure to the word in the fruit list shows an implicit memory, which is an unconscious form of memory that involves the retrieval of information without conscious awareness. This is because the participant is not actively trying to remember the word "banana", but it has been stored in their memory unconsciously through the initial exposure to the fruit list.

Quiz 8: Memory and Information Processing