How Memory Works

What is the function of sensory memory?

• To organize information in working memory
• To retrieve information from long-term memory
• To process information from the senses
• To store information permanently

How long does information typically stay in short-term memory without rehearsal?

• 15 to 30 seconds
• Several hours
• A few minutes
• Permanently

What is the recommended approach to spacing out learning over time?

• To process information from the senses
• To retrieve information from long-term memory
• To store information permanently
• To allow new neural connections to solidify

Where does most of the memory formation process occur in the brain?

• Cerebellum
• Hippocampus
• Amygdala
• Prefrontal cortex

What physical changes occur in the brain during memory formation?

• The formation of new synapses
• The structural improvements of neurons
• The use of neurotransmitters
• The strengthening of neural pathways

Why does cramming for a test not work?

• Because long-term memory cannot be accessed without rehearsal
• Because sensory memory has a short attention span
• Because new learning drives out old learning when insufficient time intervenes
• Because working memory can only hold a limited amount of information

How many bits or items of information can short-term memory handle at one time?

• 4 to 7
• 30 to 35
• 20 to 25
• 10 to 15

What is short-term memory?

• A type of memory that processes information from the senses
• A type of memory that stores information permanently
• A type of memory that can hold 4 to 7 bits of information at one time
• A type of memory that retrieves information from long-term memory

What is the role of the prefrontal cortex in memory formation?

• To process information from the senses
• To store information permanently
• To handle working memory
• To encode information in long-term memory

What is the purpose of grouping bits into chunks in working memory?

• To store information permanently
• To process information from the senses
• To increase the limit of working memory
• To retrieve information from long-term memory