Human Memory Quiz Questions

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| By Dwessler
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Quizzes Created: 18 | Total Attempts: 31,316
Questions: 12 | Attempts: 931

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Memory Quizzes & Trivia

Memory Chapter


Questions and Answers
  • 1. 

    Encoding that occurs with no effort or a minimal level of conscious attention in known as:

    • A.

      Implicit memory

    • B.

      Long term potentiation

    • C.

      Automatic processing

    • D.

      State dependent memory

    • E.

      Chuncking

    Correct Answer
    C. Automatic processing
    Explanation
    Automatic processing refers to encoding information without conscious effort or attention. This type of encoding occurs effortlessly and without the need for conscious awareness. It is the opposite of effortful processing, where conscious attention and effort are required to encode information. Automatic processing allows for the quick and efficient encoding of information that has become familiar or routine, such as driving a familiar route or typing on a keyboard. This type of encoding is often associated with implicit memory, which is the unconscious recall of information.

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  • 2. 

    Which pioneering researcher made extensive use of nonsense syllables in the study of human memeory?

    • A.

      Pavlov

    • B.

      James

    • C.

      Loftus

    • D.

      Freud

    • E.

      Ebbinhaus

    Correct Answer
    E. Ebbinhaus
    Explanation
    Ebbinhaus is the correct answer because he was a pioneering researcher who made extensive use of nonsense syllables in the study of human memory. He conducted experiments on himself, memorizing lists of nonsense syllables and then testing his recall. His work laid the foundation for the scientific study of memory and contributed to our understanding of how we learn and remember information.

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  • 3. 

    The next in line effect best illustrates

    • A.

      Encoding failure

    • B.

      Long term potentiation

    • C.

      Automatic processing

    • D.

      Retroactive inerference

    • E.

      Source amnesia

    Correct Answer
    A. Encoding failure
    Explanation
    The next in line effect refers to the phenomenon where individuals have difficulty recalling the names of people who were next in line after them. This can be attributed to encoding failure, which occurs when information is not adequately processed or encoded into memory. In this case, the failure to encode the names of the people next in line leads to difficulty in retrieving and recalling them later.

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  • 4. 

    We remember words that lend themselves to mental images better than we remember abstract low imagery words.  This best illustrates the value of:

    • A.

      Iconic memory

    • B.

      Visual encoding

    • C.

      Flashbulb memory

    • D.

      Long term potentiation

    Correct Answer
    B. Visual encoding
    Explanation
    This answer suggests that the reason we remember words that can be easily visualized is because of visual encoding. Visual encoding refers to the process of converting information into mental images, which can enhance memory retention. Therefore, when words are associated with visual imagery, they become more memorable compared to abstract low imagery words.

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  • 5. 

    By presenting research participants with three rowns of three letters each for only a fraction of a second, Sperling demonstrated that people have _______ memory.

    • A.

      Echoic

    • B.

      Flashbulb

    • C.

      State dependent

    • D.

      Iconic

    • E.

      Implicit

    Correct Answer
    D. Iconic
    Explanation
    Sperling's experiment involved showing participants three rows of three letters for a very short duration. The fact that participants were able to recall some of the letters from the briefly presented stimuli suggests that they have iconic memory. Iconic memory refers to the visual sensory memory that allows us to briefly retain and recall visual information. This explanation is supported by the context of the experiment and the concept of iconic memory.

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  • 6. 

    Long Term potentiation refers to:

    • A.

      The impact of overlearning on retention

    • B.

      An automatic tendency to recall emotionally significant

    • C.

      An increased neural readiness for impulse transmission

    • D.

      The process of learning something without any conscious memory fo having learned it

    • E.

      The relatively premanent and limitless storehouse of the memory system

    Correct Answer
    C. An increased neural readiness for impulse transmission
    Explanation
    Long-term potentiation refers to an increased neural readiness for impulse transmission. This means that after repeated stimulation, the connection between neurons becomes stronger, making it easier for impulses to be transmitted between them. This process is believed to be a key mechanism underlying learning and memory formation in the brain. It involves the strengthening of synapses, which allows for more efficient communication between neurons and enhances the ability to retain and recall information.

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  • 7. 

    The cerebellum plays a critical role in _________ memory.

    • A.

      Echoic

    • B.

      Implicit

    • C.

      Iconic

    • D.

      Explicit

    Correct Answer
    B. Implicit
    Explanation
    The cerebellum plays a critical role in implicit memory. Implicit memory refers to the unconscious or automatic recall of information, such as skills and habits. The cerebellum is involved in motor control and coordination, and it is also responsible for procedural memory, which is a type of implicit memory that involves the learning and recall of motor skills and procedures. Therefore, the correct answer is implicit.

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  • 8. 

    An eyewitness to a grocery store robbery is asked to identify the suspects in a police lineup.  Which test of memory is being utilized?

    • A.

      Recall

    • B.

      Relearning

    • C.

      Recognition

    • D.

      Rehearsal

    • E.

      Reconstruction

    Correct Answer
    C. Recognition
    Explanation
    In this scenario, the eyewitness is being asked to identify the suspects in a police lineup. Recognition is the test of memory being utilized because the eyewitness is being asked to determine whether or not they can recognize the suspects from the lineup. This test involves comparing the presented options to the memory of the suspects the eyewitness has stored, and choosing the ones that match.

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  • 9. 

    The often unconscious activation of particular associations in memory is called:

    • A.

      Chunking

    • B.

      Automatic processing

    • C.

      Repression

    • D.

      Priming

    • E.

      State dependent memory

    Correct Answer
    D. Priming
    Explanation
    Priming refers to the process of activating certain associations or concepts in memory, often unconsciously. It can occur through exposure to a stimulus, such as a word or an image, which then influences subsequent thoughts or behaviors. This activation of associations can affect perception, memory, and behavior, as it prepares the individual to process related information more quickly and efficiently. Priming can be observed in various contexts, such as when a person's behavior is influenced by subtle cues or when prior exposure to certain words influences the interpretation of subsequent words.

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  • 10. 

    The discovery that words heard underwater are later better recalled underwater than on land best illustrates the value of:

    • A.

      The method of loci

    • B.

      State dependent memory

    • C.

      The spacing effect

    • D.

      Retrieval cues

    • E.

      Implicit memory

    Correct Answer
    D. Retrieval cues
    Explanation
    The discovery that words heard underwater are later better recalled underwater than on land suggests that the context in which information is learned serves as a retrieval cue. This phenomenon is known as state-dependent memory. When the external environment during retrieval matches the environment during encoding, it enhances memory recall. This finding highlights the importance of retrieval cues in accessing stored information.

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  • 11. 

    After studying biology all afternoon, Alonso is having difficulty remembering details of the chemistry lecture he heard that morning.  Alonso's difficulty best illustrates:

    • A.

      Encoding failure

    • B.

      Retroactive interference

    • C.

      The spacing effect

    • D.

      Proactive inerference

    • E.

      Source amnesia

    Correct Answer
    B. Retroactive interference
    Explanation
    Alonso's difficulty in remembering the details of the chemistry lecture he heard that morning suggests retroactive interference. Retroactive interference occurs when newly learned information interferes with the ability to remember previously learned information. In this case, the biology information that Alonso studied in the afternoon is interfering with his ability to recall the chemistry lecture from the morning.

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  • 12. 

    When Loftus and Plamer asked observers of a filmed car accident how fast the vehicles were going when they "smashed" into each other, The observers developed memories of the accident that:

    • A.

      Omitted some of the most painful aspects of the event.

    • B.

      Were more accurate than the memories of subjects who had not been immediately questioned about what they saw.

    • C.

      Were influenced by whether or not Loftus and Plamer identified them selves as police officers

    • D.

      Portrayed the event as more serious than it had actually been.

    Correct Answer
    D. Portrayed the event as more serious than it had actually been.
    Explanation
    When Loftus and Palmer asked observers about the speed of the vehicles "smashing" into each other, the observers' memories were influenced and portrayed the event as more serious than it actually was. This suggests that the wording of the question affected the participants' recollection and perception of the accident, leading to an overestimation of the severity of the event. This phenomenon highlights the potential for external factors to distort memory and emphasizes the importance of considering the reliability of eyewitness testimonies.

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  • Current Version
  • Mar 21, 2023
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • Feb 14, 2015
    Quiz Created by
    Dwessler
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