Question 1

Procedural knowledge involves:
A) autobiographical memory of specific events
B) the verbal recall of information
C) the facilitated performance of behavior
D) none of the above

Accepted Answer

Procedural knowledge refers to knowing how to perform certain tasks or behaviors, which involves the facilitated performance of those behaviors. Autobiographical memory (A) refers to personal memories of specific events, while verbal recall of information (B) is more closely related to declarative knowledge. Therefore, the best choice is C.

Question 2

One argument for the implicit nature of procedural knowledge is that it is unconscious because:
A) it involves skills that are evolutionarily younger than older, more practiced skills
B) it involves skills that are evolutionarily older than younger, less practiced skills
C) people need implicit retrieval cues to access procedural memories
D) they are almost impossible to retrieve

Accepted Answer

Procedural knowledge is often considered unconscious because it involves skills that are evolutionarily older, such as walking or riding a bike, which are deeply ingrained and do not require conscious thought to perform.

Question 3

Spatial memories tend to exist in only one form.

Accepted Answer

Spatial memories can exist in multiple forms, including visual, auditory, and kinesthetic.

Question 4

A rat learns to navigate a complex maze to get a piece of food. The argument can be made that:
A) the rat learned the correct responses in order to navigate the maze successfully
B) the rat learned to find the place where the food was located
C) both of the above
D) neither of the above

Accepted Answer

The rat had to learn the correct responses (e.g. which turns to make, which dead ends to avoid) in order to successfully locate the food, and it also learned the location of the food as the ultimate goal of its navigation. Both of these aspects were involved in the rat's ability to navigate the maze successfully.

Question 5

Which of the following is the best characterization of route knowledge?
A) "Go north for 10 miles, then turn left at Main Street."
B) "When you get to the pizza restaurant, turn left."
C) "The courthouse is about 1 mile north of the police station."
D) all of the above

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is the best...

Question 6

Research on radial maze ability suggests that:
A) rats are only capable of forming simple stimulus-response representations of their environments
B) rats have the ability to form complex cognitive maps of their environments
C) rats do not demonstrate purposive behavior in mazes
D) none of the above

Accepted Answer

Research on radial maze ability suggests that rats have the ability to form complex cognitive maps of their environments. Studies have shown that rats are able to remember the locations of food rewards and avoid previously visited arms of the maze, indicating that they are using spatial memory to navigate through the maze. This suggests that rats are capable of forming more complex representations of their environment beyond simple stimulus-response associations.

Question 7

Research on animals' behavior in water mazes provides evidence supporting the existence of:
A) STM
B) Working Memory
C) LTM
D) Procedural LTM

Accepted Answer

Research on animals' behavior in water mazes supports the existence of working memory, which allows animals to hold information for a short period of time while they navigate the maze. This is different from short-term memory (STM) and long-term memory (LTM), which refer to the storage of information for longer periods of time. Procedural LTM, which involves the ability to remember how to perform certain skills or tasks, may also play a role in navigating water mazes, but the evidence is not as strong as for working memory.

Question 8

Lesions to the hippocampus:
A) impair maze learning
B) do not affect maze learning
C) sometimes impair, but sometimes do not affect, maze learning
D) have not been studied in relation to maze learning

Accepted Answer

The answer of Lesions to the hippocampus:
A) impair maze learning
B)...

Question 9

Landmarks can be used to enhance:
A) survey -based spatial information
B) route-based spatial information
C) neither a nor b
D) both a and b

Accepted Answer

Landmarks can be used to enhance both survey-based spatial information (such as creating maps and measuring distances) and route-based spatial information (such as providing directions and helping with navigation). Therefore, both options A and B are correct.

Question 10

The "normalization" of data that can occur when one uses schemas tends to________one's ability to recall information from a schema.
A) enhance
B) neutralize
C) distort
D) all of the above

Accepted Answer

Normalization can result in the distortion of data, as it attempts to eliminate redundancy and inconsistency by splitting data into smaller tables and linking them through relationships. This can make it more difficult for individuals to recall all the information from the schema, as they have to connect the pieces of information scattered across different tables.

Question 11

After practicing all summer long, Mary has finally learned how to make a baseball curve when she throws it. This ability can best be described as:
A) implicit learning
B) spatial learning
C) stimulus-response learning
D) motor skill learning

Accepted Answer

The ability to throw a baseball curve is a motor skill learning, which involves developing the physical ability to perform a specific task or movement through practice and repetition. Mary has learned how to execute a particular motor task effectively, which undoubtedly required the fine-tuning and coordination of specific coordinated muscle movements.

Question 12

Motor skill learning has qualities that make it illustrative of:
A) procedural learning
B) declarative memory
C) implicit learning
D) all of the above

Accepted Answer

Motor skill learning is illustrative of procedural learning because it involves learning tasks that can be performed automatically without conscious thought once mastered. It is also a form of implicit learning, as individuals often improve in motor skills without explicit awareness of what they are learning. While declarative memory involves facts and events that can be consciously recalled, motor skill learning does not fit neatly into this category; however, the process of learning motor skills can involve declarative memory during the initial stages of learning, making "all of the above" the most comprehensive choice.

Question 13

Tommy has been running the 1-mile race for his track team for the past 5 years. His best times in each of the past 5 years, respectively, have been 5:30, 5:02, 4:40, 4:30, and 4:25. Assuming his training proceeds according to plan, which of the following times should he be capable of running this year, according to the power law?
A) 3:59
B) 4:02
C) 4:23
D) 4:10

Accepted Answer

The power law states that time decreases exponentially as fitness (training) increases. Tommy's past times demonstrate a clear improvement in fitness and therefore a decrease in time. However, the decrease in time is not linear, but rather exponential. Therefore, we can predict that his time this year will continue to decrease but at a decreasing rate. Based on his past times, it's reasonable to assume that he will not suddenly drop to a time of 3:59. Option C, 4:23, is a reasonable prediction as it fits within the pattern of decreasing times at a decreasing rate.

Question 14

The power law focuses on the relationship between motor skills learning and:
A) practice
B) feedback
C) motivation
D) strength

Accepted Answer

The power law relates to the rate of motor skills learning in relation to practice. The law states that early practice results in faster learning while later practice leads to slower learning. Therefore, the key factor in this relationship is practice, not feedback, motivation, or strength.

Question 15

When considering the nature of motor skill learning, massed practice is sometimes better that spaced practice.

Accepted Answer

Massed practice involves repetitive practice of a skill in a short period of time without rest intervals, which can improve short-term performance and can be effective for simple skills. However, for complex skills, spaced practice which involves practice periods separated by rest intervals, may be more effective in promoting long-term learning and retention.

Question 16

Louie spent 4 hours yesterday afternoon learning how to ride a new all-terrain vehicle, and had his competence tested over an obstacle course. He completed the course, but made 7 driving errors while on the course. After getting a good night's rest (and without additional driving practice), Louie returned to the course today and completed it with only 2 errors. This skill improvement is best referred to as:
A) implicit learning
B) practice independent learning
C) practice dependent learning
D) massed practice

Accepted Answer

Louie's improvement without additional practice suggests practice independent learning, where skills improve after a period of rest or consolidation without further practice.

Question 17

Janet is learning how to type, in the context of a single-session lab-based psychology experiment. To maximize typing performance in this context, the best type of feedback should be delivered how soon after each typing trial?
A) 1 minute
B) 1 hour
C) immediately
D) 10 minutes.

Accepted Answer

Immediate feedback is the most effective type of feedback for skill acquisition, as it allows the learner to make adjustments and corrections in real-time. Waiting 1 minute, 10 minutes, or 1 hour may result in delayed learning and fewer opportunities for corrections to be made in the moment.

Question 18

The guidance hypothesis suggests that:
A) frequent feedback is the best way to improve motor skills
B) delayed feedback allows one to learn how to correct their own errors
C) delayed feedback inhibits motor skill learning
D) people can guide themselves when learning a motor skill--feedback is not necessary

Accepted Answer

The guidance hypothesis suggests that delayed feedback allows one to learn how to correct their own errors, rather than constantly relying on external feedback. This self-guiding process can lead to better retention of motor skills in the long-term.

Question 19

The beliefs and self-knowledge that individuals possess about what they've learned are central to:
A) metacognition
B) knowledge of results
C) practice-independent learning
D) implicit learning

Accepted Answer

Metacognition refers to an individual's awareness and understanding of their own thought processes, which includes their knowledge of what they've learned and their beliefs about their own abilities.

Question 20

Implicit learning:
A) is the same as implicit memory
B) tends to be impaired in amnesics
C) involves unconscious learning of complex information
D) all of the above

Accepted Answer

Implicit learning involves the unconscious learning of complex information, where individuals acquire knowledge without being aware of what they've learned or explicitly trying to learn it. This is different from implicit memory, which refers to unconscious memories we might not deliberately recall, such as procedural memory for tasks. Implicit learning is not necessarily impaired in amnesics, as it taps into different cognitive processes than those typically affected by amnesia.

Quiz 11: Spatial, Motor-Skill, and Implicit Learning

Procedural knowledge involves:

One argument for the implicit nature of procedural knowledge is that it is unconscious because:

Spatial memories tend to exist in only one form.

A rat learns to navigate a complex maze to get a piece of food. The argument can be made that:

Which of the following is the best characterization of route knowledge?

Research on radial maze ability suggests that:

Research on animals' behavior in water mazes provides evidence supporting the existence of:

Lesions to the hippocampus:

Landmarks can be used to enhance:

The "normalization" of data that can occur when one uses schemas tends to________one's ability to recall information from a schema.

After practicing all summer long, Mary has finally learned how to make a baseball curve when she throws it. This ability can best be described as:

Motor skill learning has qualities that make it illustrative of:

The power law focuses on the relationship between motor skills learning and:

When considering the nature of motor skill learning, massed practice is sometimes better that spaced practice.

Janet is learning how to type, in the context of a single-session lab-based psychology experiment. To maximize typing performance in this context, the best type of feedback should be delivered how soon after each typing trial?

The guidance hypothesis suggests that:

The beliefs and self-knowledge that individuals possess about what they've learned are central to:

Implicit learning: