AP Psych 2.3 Intro to Memory

Front

Caitlin, a fifth grader, is asked to remember her second-grade teacher’s name. What measure of retention will Caitlin use to answer this question?

Back

Recall

Answer explanation

Recall is a measure of memory in which the person must retrieve information learned earlier, as on a fill-in-the-blank test. In this example, Caitlin had to retrieve the name of her second-grade teacher from memory without cues, which is an example of recall.

Front

In history class, James is effortfully and actively thinking about how various events connect with one another, connecting the new material to what he has learned in the past. This making of connections in the moment best describes James’

Back

working memory.

Answer explanation

Working memory is a conscious, active processing of incoming sensory information and of information retrieved from long-term memory. James was actively thinking about the connections between events discussed in class and those pulled from his memory, using working memory.

Front

Which of the following is a logical and objective conclusion that one can make regarding the three measures of retention?
Many students find short-answer tests easier than multiple-choice tests.
Many students find the process of encoding easier than storage.
Many students find multiple-choice tests easier than short-answer tests.
Many students find the process of retrieval easier than encoding.

Back

Many students find multiple-choice tests easier than short-answer tests.

Answer explanation

Research has demonstrated that people tend to find it easier to recognize previously learned information than to recall previously learned information. Recognition is a measure of memory in which the person identifies items previously learned, as on a multiple-choice test, while recall is a measure of memory in which the person must retrieve information learned earlier, as on a fill-in-the-blank test. As such, many students find multiple-choice tests easier than short-answer tests.

Front

Dr. Quarqortog is conducting a replication of a study on the role of neurotransmitters in memory. Which neurotransmitter would this researcher most likely use to demonstrate support for past research that showed how particular neurotransmitters improve memory? GABA, Endorphins, Serotonin, Norepinephrine

Back

Serotonin

Answer explanation

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal. Additionally, research has linked the release of serotonin when learning occurs among slugs!

Front

Dr. Wallobee wants to conduct a study demonstrating that damage to the hippocampus causes people to have difficulty forming explicit memories. Why would it be unethical to use human research participants for this work?

Back

It would be unethical to subject some human research participants to hippocampal damage in the study.

Answer explanation

It would be unethical for Dr. Wallobee to conduct this study on human participants because, to show that damage to the hippocampus causes people to have difficulty forming explicit memories, they would have to use an experiment. In this experiment, some participants would be randomly assigned to a condition where they received hippocampal damage, while some participants would be randomly assigned to a condition where they do not receive hippocampal damage. It would be unethical to damage some participants’ brains.

Front

Dr. Wallobee wants to conduct a study demonstrating that damage to the hippocampus causes people to have difficulty forming explicit memories. Which of the following would be the most appropriate operational definition for Dr. Wallobee’s dependent variable in this study? Remembering the steps for baking a cake, Remembering how to ride a bicycle, Remembering a recent vacation, Remembering that thunder and lightning go together

Back

Remembering a recent vacation

Answer explanation

Correct. An explicit memory is a fact, event, or experience that we can consciously recall. The events from a recent vacation would be stored as an explicit memory, so the dependent variable would be the ability to remember the vacation events. If the hippocampus is damaged and then we have trouble remembering this, then Dr. Wallaby would be correct.

Front

What is the term for the cognitive process Aria uses to store and recall information?

Back

Memory is the cognitive process of storing and recalling information.

Front

What is the difference between explicit memory and implicit memory?

Back

Explicit memory is conscious and verbal; implicit memory is unconscious and non-verbal.

Front

Define: episodic memory

Back

Episodic memory refers to the type of explicit memory that involves the recollection of specific events or personal experience.

Front

What type of memory is responsible for Rohan's ability to hop on and ride a bicycle smoothly after years of not riding?

Back

Procedural memory is the memory of how to perform tasks and skills.