Question 1

In which of the following situations would learning be the MOST difficult?

Accepted Answer

The situation in which learning would be the most difficult is when the individual is unfamiliar with the technology that they are trying to learn. The younger age of the individual in choice D and the expertise in choice B would make learning less difficult. However, the lack of familiarity with technology, which is common in older individuals, would make learning to use an iPad most difficult for the 70-year-old individual in choice C. The task of learning to type in choice A would be challenging, but not as difficult as learning to use an unfamiliar technology.

Question 2

Which type of memory seems to be MOST vulnerable to decline as adults age?

Accepted Answer

Working memory is the type of memory that is most vulnerable to decline as adults age. This is because working memory is responsible for holding information in mind temporarily, and it is this type of memory that is most affected by the aging process.

Question 3

A person's digit span:

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that an individual's digit span tends to drop slightly as they age. This decline in working memory capacity is thought to be due to a variety of factors including changes in brain structure, decreased processing speed, and reduced attentional control. However, it should be noted that some studies have suggested that regular cognitive training may help to offset the effects of aging on working memory capacity.

Question 4

In a paired-associate test of memory,elderly adults:

Accepted Answer

Elderly adults often benefit from a slower presentation of items during study phases in memory tests, as it allows more time for encoding, potentially leading to better performance. This accommodation can help mitigate the effects of aging on memory processes.

Question 5

Which of the following supports the idea that age-related improvement in working memory capacity at least partially reflects exposure to and familiarity with the material to be remembered?

Accepted Answer

This option suggests that expertise in a specific area can lead to better working memory capacity in that domain, indicating that exposure and familiarity play a role in working memory improvement. The other options do not directly address the role of exposure and familiarity in working memory capacity.

Question 6

Performance on working-memory tasks:

Accepted Answer

Research has consistently shown that working memory performance improves throughout adolescence before leveling off at adult levels. This is due to ongoing development in the prefrontal cortex, the region of the brain responsible for working memory.

Question 7

Which of the following is true regarding gender differences in learning and memory?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that females are better than males at remembering the positions of landmarks on a map, but this advantage does not emerge until puberty. Other gender differences in learning and memory are not supported by consistent research findings.

Question 8

It has been suggested that older adults might be:

Accepted Answer

Research has found that older adults are more susceptible to proactive interference, which occurs when previously learned information interferes with the ability to learn and remember new information. This may be due to changes in the structure and function of the brain that occur with age.

Question 9

As people age from their twenties to their fifties,most types of memory:

Accepted Answer

According to research, most types of memory tend to remain relatively stable from a person's twenties to fifties. However, some forms of memory such as working memory may experience a slight decline.

Question 10

Puberty ____,while adolescence _____.

Accepted Answer

Puberty is a physical process that involves changes in hormones and the body, while adolescence is a broader term that includes psychological and social changes as well. Adolescence does not have strictly defined boundaries and can vary culturally and individually.

Question 11

Which of the following is true regarding skill learning?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that people who are experts in a particular skill continue to improve that skill even into old age. Option A is incorrect as elderly individuals are not impaired in learning basic skills but may take more time to learn due to physical limitations. Option C is incorrect as middle-aged adults may experience some decline in skill learning but older adults may not necessarily exhibit the same decline. Option D is incorrect as research suggests that older adults make fewer errors in learning new skills but may take longer to learn them compared to younger adults.

Question 12

Which of the following would elderly individuals have the MOST difficulty with?

Accepted Answer

Paired-associate tests of memory require remembering two related items (such as a word paired with a corresponding picture), and older adults tend to have difficulty with this type of task due to declines in associative memory. The other options involve recalling information that is more likely to be retained in long-term memory.

Question 13

In an emotional memory test,elderly adults remembered:

Accepted Answer

According to research, elderly adults tend to remember more positive images than negative images in emotional memory tests.

Question 14

Which of the following is true regarding gender differences in learning and memory?

Accepted Answer

Studies on adult rats have shown gender differences in learning and memory, indicating that these differences are not solely due to cultural or societal factors.

Answer: C 
 Research on infant rats has also shown gender differences in learning and memory, suggesting that these differences may be biologically based rather than solely due to cultural or societal factors.

Answer: D 
 Research has shown that gender differences in learning and memory can emerge early in life, even before the time when sex hormones begin increasing. Therefore, this statement is false.

Question 15

Men generally perform better than women on tasks involving:

Accepted Answer

Studies have consistently shown that men tend to outperform women on spatial learning tasks, such as mental rotation and estimating distances and angles. This is thought to be due to differences in brain structure and hormonal influences.

Question 16

Which of the following people's skill will be the MOST resistant to decline in older adulthood

Accepted Answer

Professional skills, such as those of a chef, require constant use and practice, which may make them more resistant to decline in older adulthood compared to skills that are not regularly used or practiced.

Question 17

During adolescence,a person's digit span:

Accepted Answer

During adolescence, a person's digit span increases until it reaches typical adult capacity. Studies have consistently shown that digit span (the ability to remember a list of numbers given in a particular sequence) improves from childhood to adolescence and then stabilizes in adulthood. By the end of adolescence, most individuals have reached their maximum digit span capacity, which is typically seven items plus or minus two in healthy adults.

Question 18

The process of physical change during which the body transitions to sexual maturity is known as:

Accepted Answer

Puberty is the process of physical change during which the body transitions to sexual maturity. This process includes the development of sexual characteristics, such as the growth of pubic hair and the onset of menstruation in females, as well as physical changes like growth spurts and a deeper voice in males. It is a normal part of human development and typically occurs between the ages of 8 and 13 in females and between the ages of 9 and 14 in males.

Question 19

People with _______ perform worse on learning and memory tests than people with ______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of People with _______ perform worse on learning...

Question 20

At what age does eyeblink conditioning start to decline?

Accepted Answer

The answer of At what age does eyeblink conditioning start...

Quiz 12: Development and Aging: Learning and Memory Across the Lifespan

In which of the following situations would learning be the MOST difficult?

Which type of memory seems to be MOST vulnerable to decline as adults age?

A person's digit span:

In a paired-associate test of memory,elderly adults:

Which of the following supports the idea that age-related improvement in working memory capacity at least partially reflects exposure to and familiarity with the material to be remembered?

Performance on working-memory tasks:

Which of the following is true regarding gender differences in learning and memory?

It has been suggested that older adults might be:

As people age from their twenties to their fifties,most types of memory:

Puberty ,while adolescence _.

Which of the following is true regarding skill learning?

Which of the following would elderly individuals have the MOST difficulty with?

In an emotional memory test,elderly adults remembered:

Which of the following is true regarding gender differences in learning and memory?

Men generally perform better than women on tasks involving:

Which of the following people's skill will be the MOST resistant to decline in older adulthood

During adolescence,a person's digit span:

The process of physical change during which the body transitions to sexual maturity is known as:

People with _ perform worse on learning and memory tests than people with .

At what age does eyeblink conditioning start to decline?