Question 1

One possible explanation for the power law of learning is the:
A) improved transfer of material from short-term memory to the centralized long-term store.
B) long-term potentiation of neurons.
C) extinction of inhibitory postsynaptic potentials that interfere with retrieval.
D) activation of frontal lobe areas that organize the material in meaningful wholes.

Accepted Answer

The long-term potentiation of neurons is thought to be a key mechanism behind the power law of learning, as repeated stimulation of certain neural pathways leads to increased synaptic strength and more efficient information processing.

Question 2

The notion of long-term potentiation is that:
A) there is increased sensitivity of stimulated cells as measured by increased excitatory postsynaptic potential.
B) the long-term power of the memory trace increases as a linear function with practice.
C) neural presynaptic messengers required for synaptic transmission are energized with increased practice.
D) inhibitory postsynaptic potentials that interfere with membrane depolarization are extinguished with practice.

Accepted Answer

Long-term potentiation refers to the increased sensitivity of stimulated cells as measured by increased excitatory postsynaptic potential. This phenomenon is believed to underlie the formation and strengthening of memory traces in the brain.

Question 3

Chris and Danielle are participating in a memory study.Both are given identical word lists and are asked to count the number of vowels in each word.However,only Chris is told that there will be a memory test later.When the memory test is given,who will perform better?
A) Both will perform poorly due to the vowel-counting technique.
B) Chris.He knew to learn the words for the recall task.
C) Danielle.She was not pressured to learn the words for the recall task.
D) They will perform equally well.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Chris and Danielle are participating in a...

Question 4

The power law of learning refers to the fact that:
A) the associative strength of items in a propositional network increases linearly with increased practice.
B) speed of responding in working memory is a power function of recency of presentation.
C) overlearning leads to a linear,nonasymptotic increase in power of the memory trace.
D) memory performance improves as a function of practice.

Accepted Answer

The power law of learning refers to the fact that memory performance improves as a function of practice. This means that the more one practices a task, the better their memory of that task becomes. This phenomenon has been observed across various domains, such as language learning, motor skills, and problem-solving.

Question 5

Participants in the Meyer and Schvaneveldt study were faster at making judgments about positive word pairs,such as:
A) nurse and butter.
B) bread and butter.
C) plame and wine.
D) wine and plame.

Accepted Answer

The Meyer and Schvaneveldt study found that participants were faster at making judgments about positively associated word pairs, such as bread and butter. This suggests that the association between the two words is stronger and more easily accessible in memory, leading to faster processing time.

Question 6

Participants in the Meyer and Schvaneveldt study were faster at making judgments about negative word pairs,such as:
A) nurse and butter.
B) bread and butter.
C) plame and wine.
D) wine and plame.

Accepted Answer

Participants were faster at making judgments about non-words or unrelated word pairs, like "plame and wine," because they don't have a semantic relationship, making it easier to quickly determine they are not related.

Question 7

Which statement is NOT an appropriate interpretation of the Stein and Bransford study of self-generated elaborations?
A) Externally supplied precise elaborations are more helpful than self-generated imprecise elaborations.
B) Externally generated elaborations to aid memory generally work much better than self-generated elaborations.
C) The issue is not self-generated versus other-generated elaborations,but the precision of the elaborations.
D) Recall will be inferior if the elaborations are imprecise.

Accepted Answer

The Stein and Bransford study actually found the opposite, that self-generated elaborations were more effective than externally generated elaborations in aiding memory. Therefore, option B is the incorrect interpretation.

Question 8

Meyer and Schvaneveldt's (1971)study of reaction time to paired words,such as bread/butter or nurse/butter,was an examination of which memory phenomenon?
A) working memory
B) spreading activation
C) flashbulb memory
D) levels-of-activation

Accepted Answer

Meyer and Schvaneveldt's study was an examination of spreading activation, as it investigated how closely related words were processed and activated in memory, leading to faster or slower reaction times. Working memory, flashbulb memory, and levels-of-activation were not the focus of this study.

Question 9

When studying for your cognitive psychology test,you go over an important term in your notes and make up an example for that term.Which concept BEST explains why making up the examples will help you remember the terms?
A) elaborative processing
B) maintenance rehearsal
C) rote memorization
D) nonintentional learning

Accepted Answer

Elaborative processing involves creating connections between new information and existing knowledge, which facilitates encoding and retrieval of the information. Making up examples for terms is an example of elaborative processing, as it requires deeper processing and creates meaningful associations that enhance memory retention. Maintenance rehearsal (B) involves repeating information without interpretation, and is less effective for long-term memory. Rote memorization (C) involves memorizing information through repetition without meaning, which is also less effective than elaborative processing. Nonintentional learning (D) refers to incidental learning without conscious effort, and is not applicable to deliberately studying for a test.

Question 10

Which is NOT a component of the PQ4R method?
A) question
B) recite
C) review
D) rote rehearse

Accepted Answer

The components of the PQ4R method are Preview, Question, Read, Reflect, Recite, and Review. Rote rehearse is not included in the method.

Question 11

In Goldman-Rakic's work with monkeys,she suggests that:
A) the prefrontal cortex may be divided into small sections responsible for retaining different types of information.
B) the frontal cortex appears to deal primarily with abstract information,not visuospatial information.
C) areas of the frontal cortex may correspond closely to the phonological loop,the visuospatial sketchpad,and the central executive.
D) the prefrontal cortex is primarily a personality center not involved in memory.

Accepted Answer

Goldman-Rakic's work suggests that the prefrontal cortex may be divided into small sections responsible for retaining different types of information. This is known as the "modular organization" of the prefrontal cortex.

Question 12

Imagine meeting someone at a party who you really want to see again.You get his phone number,but with no paper and pencil to write it down,you convert it to the abbreviation CALL HIM.The strength of the memory trace will be much stronger because you have used:
A) parallel processing.
B) maintenance rehearsal.
C) rote memorization.
D) elaborative processing.

Accepted Answer

Elaborative processing involves associating new information with existing knowledge or experiences to strengthen memory traces. In this scenario, converting the phone number to the abbreviation "CALL HIM" involves making a mental connection between the phone number and the action of calling the person, which can enhance the strength of the memory trace.

Question 13

Recent experimental evidence has demonstrated a lateralization of memory functions.It appears that _____ is carried out by the left prefrontal cortex,while _____ is carried out by the right prefrontal cortex.
A) memory for words;memory for pictures
B) visual memory;auditory memory
C) memory encoding;memory retrieval
D) sensory memory;short-term memory

Accepted Answer

Recent experimental evidence suggests that memory for words is carried out by the left prefrontal cortex, while memory for pictures is carried out by the right prefrontal cortex. This implies that different types of memory functions may be localized to different areas of the brain, and that the two sides of the brain may have specialized roles in processing and storing different types of information.

Question 14

Kahn and Wagner demonstrated that,with practice,the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex become less active when engaging in which activity?
A) memory encoding
B) memory consolidation
C) rehearsal functions
D) memory retrieval

Accepted Answer

Kahn and Wagner demonstrated that with practice, the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex become less active during memory retrieval, suggesting that the process becomes more automatic and efficient.

Question 15

Which statement is NOT evidence for the role of the frontal cortex in working memory?
A) Human infants are unable to perform a delayed match-to-sample task until their frontal cortices develop.
B) Neurons in the frontal cortex appear to fire only during the delay period.
C) Removal of small amounts of frontal lobe tissue interferes with image formation in the visuospatial sketchpad.
D) Damage to the frontal cortex interferes with a monkey's ability to perform the delayed match-to-sample task.

Accepted Answer

Option C is not evidence for the role of the frontal cortex in working memory as it describes the interference with image formation in the visuospatial sketchpad due to removal of small amounts of frontal lobe tissue, which is related to spatial representation and not necessarily working memory. In contrast, options A, B, and D provide evidence for the role of the frontal cortex in working memory, such as the developmental timeline of the delayed match-to-sample task, the neural activity during the delay period, and the interference with the task due to frontal cortex damage.

Question 16

The PQ4R method is most effective when studying:
A) literary material.
B) mathematics.
C) physical sciences.
D) social sciences.

Accepted Answer

The PQ4R method is best suited for studying material in the social sciences, as it emphasizes active engagement with the material and encourages the reader to make connections and associations between different concepts. This approach can be particularly valuable when studying topics that are complex or require a nuanced understanding, such as those in the fields of psychology, sociology, or political science. While the method can certainly be adapted for use in other subject areas, it may be less effective in fields like mathematics or the physical sciences, where there is less emphasis on interpretation and analysis of text-based material.

Question 17

Material processed elaborately involves _____ brain regions as material processed _____.
A) the same;shallowly
B) the same;auditorily
C) different;shallowly
D) different;auditorily

Accepted Answer

The answer of Material processed elaborately involves _____ brain regions...

Question 18

What is a likely explanation for the effectiveness of the PQ4R method?
A) It dramatically increases the number of practice trials.
B) It provides specific mnemonic strategies that aid encoding and retrieval.
C) It provides guides for faster reading of material.
D) It promotes elaborative rehearsal.

Accepted Answer

The PQ4R method is designed to promote elaborative rehearsal, which involves actively engaging with the material to encode and retrieve it more effectively. This is likely why the method has been found to be effective in improving study and retention of information.

Question 19

_____ processing evokes higher levels of activation than _____ processing.
A) Auditory;elaborative
B) Auditory;shallow
C) Elaborative;shallow
D) Shallow;elaborative

Accepted Answer

Elaborative processing involves deeper analysis and connections with existing information, which leads to greater activation in the brain compared to shallow processing that involves simply repeating or rehearsing information. Auditory processing refers to the use of hearing in processing information, but it is the depth of processing rather than the sensory mode that affects activation levels. Therefore, option C is the best answer.

Question 20

Based on the core notion of the PQ4R method,you should:
A) formulate and answer questions while reading new material.
B) increase by fourfold the amount of time devoted to reviewing.
C) reread the material by scanning to optimize learning.
D) ask instructors for prompt questions before you begin reading the text.

Accepted Answer

PQ4R stands for Preview, Question, Read, Reflect, Recite, Review. The core notion of this method is to formulate and answer questions while reading new material, hence the best choice is A.

Quiz 6: Human Memory: Encoding and Storage

One possible explanation for the power law of learning is the:

The notion of long-term potentiation is that:

Chris and Danielle are participating in a memory study.Both are given identical word lists and are asked to count the number of vowels in each word.However,only Chris is told that there will be a memory test later.When the memory test is given,who will perform better?

The power law of learning refers to the fact that:

Participants in the Meyer and Schvaneveldt study were faster at making judgments about positive word pairs,such as:

Participants in the Meyer and Schvaneveldt study were faster at making judgments about negative word pairs,such as:

Which statement is NOT an appropriate interpretation of the Stein and Bransford study of self-generated elaborations?

Meyer and Schvaneveldt's (1971) study of reaction time to paired words,such as bread/butter or nurse/butter,was an examination of which memory phenomenon?

When studying for your cognitive psychology test,you go over an important term in your notes and make up an example for that term.Which concept BEST explains why making up the examples will help you remember the terms?

Which is NOT a component of the PQ4R method?

In Goldman-Rakic's work with monkeys,she suggests that:

Imagine meeting someone at a party who you really want to see again.You get his phone number,but with no paper and pencil to write it down,you convert it to the abbreviation CALL HIM.The strength of the memory trace will be much stronger because you have used:

Recent experimental evidence has demonstrated a lateralization of memory functions.It appears that _ is carried out by the left prefrontal cortex,while _ is carried out by the right prefrontal cortex.

Kahn and Wagner demonstrated that,with practice,the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex become less active when engaging in which activity?

Which statement is NOT evidence for the role of the frontal cortex in working memory?

The PQ4R method is most effective when studying:

Material processed elaborately involves _ brain regions as material processed _.

What is a likely explanation for the effectiveness of the PQ4R method?

_ processing evokes higher levels of activation than _ processing.

Based on the core notion of the PQ4R method,you should: