Your teacher has given each student the name of a key figure in the history of psychology. The assignment is to describe at least one significant contribution made by this person. If your historical figure is Hermann Ebbinghaus, what contribution might you describe to the class?
A) He described the limits of sensory storage.
B) He discovered the parts of the brain responsible for processing memories.
C) He created nonsense syllables in order to study memory in a "pure" form.
D) He developed a series of memory aids that is still used by students today.
E) His development of the fMRI to test brain activity during memory tasks.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Hermann Ebbinghaus is known for his pioneering work on memory. He is most famous for his use of nonsense syllables, which are invented words that have no meaning but can still be easily memorized. Ebbinghaus used these syllables to study memory in a "pure" form, free from the influence of pre-existing knowledge or meanings. He found that forgetting occurs rapidly within the first hour after learning, but then levels off over time, forming what is known as the "forgetting curve." His work on memory laid the foundation for later research on cognitive processes such as attention, perception, and problem-solving.

Your Teacher Has Given Each Student the Name of a Key