Your teacher has given each student the name of a key figure in the history of psychology. The assignment is to describe at least one significant contribution made by this person. If your historical figure is Hermann Ebbinghaus, what contribution might you describe to the class?
A) He described the limits of sensory storage.
B) He discovered the parts of the brain responsible for processing memories.
C) He created nonsense syllables in order to study memory in a pure form.
D) He developed a series of memory aids that is still used by students today.
E) His development of the fMRI to test brain activity during memory tasks.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Hermann Ebbinghaus is best known for his research on memory. He developed a method of studying memory that involved studying nonsense syllables - combinations of letters or sounds that have no meaning - in order to study memory in a pure form, without the interference of pre-existing associations. The results of his studies, which he published in the book "Memory: A Contribution to Experimental Psychology" in 1885, showed that forgetting tends to occur quickly after learning, but levels off after a period of time, and that the amount forgotten is related to the amount of time spent learning. This research was groundbreaking in the field of psychology and helped set the stage for future studies on memory.

Your Teacher Has Given Each Student the Name of a Key