Question 1

Many researchers believe that memory conversion of short-term memory into long-term memory requires
A)the creation of new neurons.
B)the creation of new synapses.
C)the development of new neurotransmitters.
D)long-term potentiation.
E)weakening neuronal networks.

Accepted Answer

Long-term potentiation (LTP) is a long-lasting increase in the strength of a synapse that occurs as a result of high-frequency stimulation. LTP is thought to be a cellular mechanism for memory formation.

Question 2

During the war in Iraq, Max saw his best friend killed during an enemy attack. Max felt that he was partially responsible for his friend's death, and he has a great deal of guilt. Subsequently, Max has perfect recall of his war experience, except for his friend's death. Max's psychologically caused amnesia is referred to as
A)dissociative amnesia.
B)retrograde amnesia.
C)reactive amnesia.
D)anterograde amnesia.
E)repressive amnesia.

Accepted Answer

Dissociative amnesia is characterized by an inability to recall important personal information, usually of a traumatic or stressful nature, that is too extensive to be explained by ordinary forgetfulness. Max's inability to remember the specific event of his friend's death, despite remembering other details of his war experience, aligns with this definition.

Question 3

In his research on memory, Kandel demonstrated that
A)memory power can be boosted through the use of mnemonics.
B)damage to the hippocampus can prevent the formation of new memories.
C)memories are stored in complex networks of interconnected brain cells called neuronal networks.
D)manipulation of particular genes can enhance learning and memory, producing "smart" organisms.
E)memory formation involves biochemical changes occurring at the synaptic level.

Accepted Answer

Memory formation involves biochemical changes occurring at the synaptic level.

Question 4

The conversion of short-term memory into long-term declarative memory most likely involves the
A)hypothalamus.
B)hippocampus.
C)thalamus.
D)medulla.
E)brainstem.

Accepted Answer

The hippocampus is crucial for the conversion of short-term memory into long-term declarative memory, playing a key role in memory formation and spatial navigation.

Question 5

Long-term potentiation involves _____.
A)the creation of new neural circuits in the thalamus
B)the encoding of a fear response in the amygdala
C)a long-lasting increase in the strength of synaptic connections
D)the creation of neuronal networks in the cerebellum
E)a relatively temporary memory created in the hippocampus

Accepted Answer

Long-term potentiation (LTP) is a process where synaptic connections between neurons become stronger with frequent activation. This strengthening is a cellular mechanism that underlies learning and memory.

Question 6

A physical trace of memory in the brain is termed a(n)
A)flashbulb memory.
B)schema.
C)engram.
D)mnemonic.
E)neuronal network.

Accepted Answer

An engram is the term used to describe the physical trace of memory in the brain, according to the theory that memories are stored as biophysical or biochemical changes in the brain in response to external stimuli.

Question 7

_____ are memory circuits in the brain that consist of complicated networks of nerve cells.
A)Engrams
B)Retrieval cues
C)Memory schemas
D)Semantic networks
E)Neuronal networks

Accepted Answer

Neuronal networks are complex networks of interconnected nerve cells (neurons) in the brain that form memory circuits.

Question 8

Strengthening synaptic connections between neurons by repeated stimulation is known as
A)long-term potentiation.
B)short-term potentiation.
C)electroshock therapy.
D)neuronal networking.
E)long-term consolidation.

Accepted Answer

Long-term potentiation (LTP) is a process where synaptic connections between neurons become stronger with repeated stimulation, enhancing the ability to learn and remember.

Question 9

Regarding the role of the hippocampus in memory, which of the following statements is FALSE?
A)The hippocampus serves as a temporary storage bin for holding new memories before they are transferred to other parts of the brain for long-term storage.
B)The hippocampus plays a role in converting newly learned facts into long-term memory.
C)The hippocampus plays a role in converting daily experiences into long-term memory.
D)The hippocampus does not play a role in procedural memory.
E)The hippocampus is the final destination for new memories.

Accepted Answer

The hippocampus is involved in the formation, organization, and storage of new memories but is not the final destination for them. New memories are eventually transferred to other parts of the brain for long-term storage.

Question 10

The _____ plays an important role in encoding emotional experiences, such as fear responses.
A)hippocampus
B)cingulate gyrus
C)thalamus
D)amygdala
E)hypothalamus

Accepted Answer

The amygdala is crucial for processing emotions and is especially known for its role in fear responses and emotional memories.

Question 11

Eric Kandel studied the formation of memories in the
A)garden slug.
B)sea snail.
C)tree frog.
D)white rat.
E)smart fly.

Accepted Answer

Eric Kandel conducted his pioneering research on the physiological basis of memory storage in the brain using the sea snail Aplysia. This choice of organism was due to its relatively simple nervous system, which includes large, easily identifiable nerve cells.

Question 12

Which brain structure plays an important role in encoding fear and anger?
A)amygdala
B)hippocampus
C)hypothalamus
D)cortex
E)brainstem

Accepted Answer

The amygdala is crucial for processing emotions, especially fear and anger, by associating various sensory inputs with emotions and memories of emotional events.

Question 13

Kandel found that the amount of neurotransmitters released into synapses involved in the gill withdrawal reflex _____ as the animal learned the conditioned response.
A)increased
B)decreased
C)increased at first, and then decreased
D)decreased at first, and then increased
E)stayed the same

Accepted Answer

Kandel's research on the sea slug Aplysia demonstrated that as the animal learned the conditioned response for the gill withdrawal reflex, the amount of neurotransmitters released into the synapses involved in this reflex increased. This finding was pivotal in understanding the cellular basis of learning and memory.

Question 14

Regarding ideas about where memories are stored, the current belief is that
A)engrams do exist in the way Lashley believed.
B)long-term memories are stored in the amygdala.
C)engrams exist, but modern technology is unable to identify them.
D)memories are stored in neuronal networks rather than individual cells.
E)the engram is housed in the brainstem.

Accepted Answer

Memories are understood to be stored across complex networks of neurons throughout the brain, rather than in single cells or specific, isolated locations. This concept reflects the understanding that memory involves the interaction of various brain regions and is distributed across neural networks.

Question 15

From a biological perspective, memories are most like which of the following?
A)an etching or trace
B)a flashbulb
C)a circuit
D)a photograph
E)computer software

Accepted Answer

Memories are most like a circuit because they involve complex networks of neurons in the brain that are activated and reactivated, similar to how circuits work.

Question 16

The overall outcome of Lashley's search for the engram was the
A)discovery of different engrams for different sorts of memories.
B)realization that memories are not stored in any specific brain structure.
C)discovery of a single engram for various sorts of memories.
D)localization of engrams in the hippocampus.
E)confirmation that memories are housed in the cerebral cortex.

Accepted Answer

Lashley's research led to the realization that memories are not stored in any specific, localized brain structure, but are instead distributed throughout the brain. This challenged the earlier notion of a single, tangible location for memories, or engrams.

Question 17

Where memory is concerned, the hippocampus _____.
A)is involved with processing procedural memories, but not dispositional information
B)is involved with processing emotional memories, but not memories of factual information
C)is involved with processing memories of factual information, but not emotional memories
D)is involved with processing long-term memories, but not memories of intermediate duration
E)is involved with processing semantic and episodic memories, but not procedural memories

Accepted Answer

The hippocampus is crucial for the formation of long-term semantic and episodic memories, which are types of declarative memory. It is not primarily involved in procedural memory, which relates to skills and tasks.

Question 18

What is the current status of research on memory-enhancing drugs?
A)Mixed evidence for the effectiveness of the drugs in memory enhancement among normal individuals
B)Strong evidence that the drugs enhance memory in normal individuals
C)Strong evidence that the drugs enhance memory in normal individuals, but only if the drugs are taken for at least two years
D)Strong evidence that the drugs enhance memory in normal individuals, but only if combined with memory-retraining exercises
E)No compelling scientific evidence that the drugs enhance memory in normal individuals

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the current status of research...

Question 19

Because of an accident he suffered last month, Jason suffers from anterograde amnesia. As a result, he may have trouble remembering _____.
A)the name of the high school from which he graduated.
B)events that occurred just before his accident.
C)names of people he just met.
D)where he moved to shortly before the accident.
E)the names of common objects.

Accepted Answer

Anterograde amnesia affects the ability to form new memories after the onset of the amnesia, meaning Jason would struggle to remember new information such as names of people he just met.

Question 20

Cells that "fire together, wire together." This saying best captures the concept of
A)memory consolidation.
B)amnesia.
C)repression.
D)long-term potentiation.
E)overlearning.

Accepted Answer

This saying encapsulates the concept of long-term potentiation (LTP), a process where repeated stimulation of certain neural pathways strengthens the synaptic connections between neurons, enhancing the ability to learn and remember.

Quiz 6: Memory

Many researchers believe that memory conversion of short-term memory into long-term memory requires

In his research on memory, Kandel demonstrated that

The conversion of short-term memory into long-term declarative memory most likely involves the

Long-term potentiation involves _____.

A physical trace of memory in the brain is termed a(n)

_____ are memory circuits in the brain that consist of complicated networks of nerve cells.

Strengthening synaptic connections between neurons by repeated stimulation is known as

Regarding the role of the hippocampus in memory, which of the following statements is FALSE?

The _____ plays an important role in encoding emotional experiences, such as fear responses.

Eric Kandel studied the formation of memories in the

Which brain structure plays an important role in encoding fear and anger?

Kandel found that the amount of neurotransmitters released into synapses involved in the gill withdrawal reflex _____ as the animal learned the conditioned response.

Regarding ideas about where memories are stored, the current belief is that

From a biological perspective, memories are most like which of the following?

The overall outcome of Lashley's search for the engram was the

Where memory is concerned, the hippocampus _____.

What is the current status of research on memory-enhancing drugs?

Because of an accident he suffered last month, Jason suffers from anterograde amnesia. As a result, he may have trouble remembering _____.

Cells that "fire together, wire together." This saying best captures the concept of