,PSYC 101 Module 9 | General Psychology Exam Q&A |
Portage Learning
1. Which of the following best describes the process of retrieving information from memory?
A) The process of maintaining information over time
B) The process of bringing stored information into conscious awareness
C) The process of converting sensory input into a neural code
D) The process of organizing information into meaningful units
Correct Answer: The process of bringing stored information into conscious awareness
Rationale: Retrieval is the memory process of accessing and bringing stored information into
conscious awareness. Encoding is the initial conversion of sensory input into a neural code,
and storage is the maintenance of information over time. Organizing information into
meaningful units describes chunking, which is a memory strategy, not a memory process.
2. When new experiences disrupt the recall of old experiences, this is referred to as:
A) Proactive interference
B) Retroactive interference
C) Retrieval failure
D) Cue overload
Correct Answer: Retroactive interference
Rationale: Retroactive interference occurs when newly learned information interferes with
the recall of previously learned information. Proactive interference is the opposite—old
information interferes with new learning. Retrieval failure and cue overload are different
memory phenomena.
3. Estelle has fond memories of the night her husband proposed to her. This memory
probably involves not only her hippocampus but also her:
,A) Cerebellum
B) Amygdala
C) Hypothalamus
D) Thalamus
Correct Answer: Amygdala
Rationale: The amygdala is involved in emotional processing and helps consolidate
emotionally significant memories. The hippocampus is critical for declarative memory
formation, but the emotional intensity of the proposal would engage the amygdala. The
cerebellum is for motor coordination, and the hypothalamus regulates basic drives.
4. When you tell your roommate about what happened on the way to class, that information is
retrieved from _____ memory.
A) Episodic
B) Sensory
C) Working
D) Semantic
Correct Answer: Episodic
Rationale: Episodic memory is the memory of personally experienced events, including the
time and place they occurred. Semantic memory is for general facts and knowledge. Sensory
memory is very brief, and working memory is a temporary storage system for active
processing.
5. Levi met a cute girl walking from class. The girl gave him her number and he is trying to
remember the digits until he can write it down. Levi is using what type of memory?
A) Collective
B) Semantic
C) Episodic
D) Working memory
, Correct Answer: Working memory
Rationale: Working memory is a limited-capacity system for temporarily holding and
manipulating information needed for cognitive tasks. Levi is actively holding the phone
number in mind until he can record it. Episodic memory is for personal events, semantic is
for facts, and collective memory is shared by a group.
6. Which of the following best describes the concept of distinctiveness in memory?
A) The tendency for unusual or unique events to be remembered more vividly
B) The tendency for repeated exposure to increase liking
C) The tendency for new information to interfere with old memories
D) The tendency for emotional memories to be less accurate
Correct Answer: The tendency for unusual or unique events to be remembered more vividly
Rationale: Distinctiveness refers to the phenomenon where unique or unusual events are
better remembered than ordinary events. This is because distinctive events stand out and
receive more elaborative processing. Repeated exposure increasing liking describes the mere
exposure effect, and interference and emotional memory accuracy are different concepts.
7. Research on flashbulb memories indicates that:
A) The details of these memories are very accurate
B) The details of these memories are not very accurate
C) The details of these memories are difficult to retrieve
D) Flashbulb memories are difficult to study scientifically
Correct Answer: The details of these memories are not very accurate
Rationale: Research has shown that although people are highly confident in their flashbulb
memories, the actual accuracy of the details is often poor and decays over time. The
Portage Learning
1. Which of the following best describes the process of retrieving information from memory?
A) The process of maintaining information over time
B) The process of bringing stored information into conscious awareness
C) The process of converting sensory input into a neural code
D) The process of organizing information into meaningful units
Correct Answer: The process of bringing stored information into conscious awareness
Rationale: Retrieval is the memory process of accessing and bringing stored information into
conscious awareness. Encoding is the initial conversion of sensory input into a neural code,
and storage is the maintenance of information over time. Organizing information into
meaningful units describes chunking, which is a memory strategy, not a memory process.
2. When new experiences disrupt the recall of old experiences, this is referred to as:
A) Proactive interference
B) Retroactive interference
C) Retrieval failure
D) Cue overload
Correct Answer: Retroactive interference
Rationale: Retroactive interference occurs when newly learned information interferes with
the recall of previously learned information. Proactive interference is the opposite—old
information interferes with new learning. Retrieval failure and cue overload are different
memory phenomena.
3. Estelle has fond memories of the night her husband proposed to her. This memory
probably involves not only her hippocampus but also her:
,A) Cerebellum
B) Amygdala
C) Hypothalamus
D) Thalamus
Correct Answer: Amygdala
Rationale: The amygdala is involved in emotional processing and helps consolidate
emotionally significant memories. The hippocampus is critical for declarative memory
formation, but the emotional intensity of the proposal would engage the amygdala. The
cerebellum is for motor coordination, and the hypothalamus regulates basic drives.
4. When you tell your roommate about what happened on the way to class, that information is
retrieved from _____ memory.
A) Episodic
B) Sensory
C) Working
D) Semantic
Correct Answer: Episodic
Rationale: Episodic memory is the memory of personally experienced events, including the
time and place they occurred. Semantic memory is for general facts and knowledge. Sensory
memory is very brief, and working memory is a temporary storage system for active
processing.
5. Levi met a cute girl walking from class. The girl gave him her number and he is trying to
remember the digits until he can write it down. Levi is using what type of memory?
A) Collective
B) Semantic
C) Episodic
D) Working memory
, Correct Answer: Working memory
Rationale: Working memory is a limited-capacity system for temporarily holding and
manipulating information needed for cognitive tasks. Levi is actively holding the phone
number in mind until he can record it. Episodic memory is for personal events, semantic is
for facts, and collective memory is shared by a group.
6. Which of the following best describes the concept of distinctiveness in memory?
A) The tendency for unusual or unique events to be remembered more vividly
B) The tendency for repeated exposure to increase liking
C) The tendency for new information to interfere with old memories
D) The tendency for emotional memories to be less accurate
Correct Answer: The tendency for unusual or unique events to be remembered more vividly
Rationale: Distinctiveness refers to the phenomenon where unique or unusual events are
better remembered than ordinary events. This is because distinctive events stand out and
receive more elaborative processing. Repeated exposure increasing liking describes the mere
exposure effect, and interference and emotional memory accuracy are different concepts.
7. Research on flashbulb memories indicates that:
A) The details of these memories are very accurate
B) The details of these memories are not very accurate
C) The details of these memories are difficult to retrieve
D) Flashbulb memories are difficult to study scientifically
Correct Answer: The details of these memories are not very accurate
Rationale: Research has shown that although people are highly confident in their flashbulb
memories, the actual accuracy of the details is often poor and decays over time. The
