During the short-answer essay part of the examination, Ethan was absolutely certain that he knew the definition of long-term potentiation, but he could not think of it. Which of the following is the most likely explanation for Ethan's inability to retrieve the information from his long-term memory?
A) the misinformation effect
B) prospective memory failure
C) source confusion
D) retrieval cue failure

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Ethan's inability to retrieve the information from his long-term memory suggests a failure in the retrieval process rather than a memory distortion or confusion issue, which rules out options A and C. Prospective memory refers to the ability to remember to perform intended actions in the future, which is not relevant to the situation. Therefore, option B is also incorrect. Retrieval cue failure occurs when an appropriate prompt or cue is unavailable, which is a likely scenario in Ethan's case.

During the Short-Answer Essay Part of the Examination, Ethan Was