Free AP Psychology Memory Exam Question and Answers

Question 1

Which of the following rehearsing techniques would help you remember someone's name who you just met?

Accepted Answer

Elaborative rehearsal

Answer

Elaborative rehearsal is a memory technique that involves actively thinking about the meaning of new information and connecting it to existing knowledge in your long-term memory. To remember a name, you might associate it with a famous person, a visual image, or a personal experience. This deeper processing makes the information more meaningful and significantly improves retention compared to simple repetition.

Question 2

Memory for automatic tasks, like riding a bike and writing, is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Procedural memory

Answer

Procedural memory is a type of implicit long-term memory responsible for knowing how to do things, often without conscious thought. It involves motor skills and habits, such as riding a bike, tying shoelaces, or writing. These memories are typically acquired through practice and repetition and are resistant to forgetting.

Question 3

As a result of a brain injury brought on by a stroke or an accident, a person may experience retrograde amnesia, in which case they become forgetful about the:

Accepted Answer

Events immediately before the injury

Answer

Retrograde amnesia is a form of memory loss where an individual cannot recall events that occurred *before* the onset of the amnesia-causing injury or disease. The severity can vary, with memories closer to the injury often being more affected than older memories. This contrasts with anterograde amnesia, which affects the formation of new memories after the injury.

Question 4

What is the name for memory loss that only happens with the passage of time?

Accepted Answer

Decay

Answer

Decay theory suggests that memories fade or weaken over time if they are not regularly retrieved or rehearsed. This process is often compared to a physical trace that deteriorates with disuse. While other factors like interference also contribute to forgetting, decay specifically refers to the natural fading of memory strength solely due to the passage of time.

Question 5

Anterograde amnesia is associated with what area of brain damage or removal?

Accepted Answer

Hippocampus

Answer

The hippocampus is a crucial brain structure located in the medial temporal lobe, essential for the formation of new declarative memories (facts and events). Damage to the hippocampus, often seen in cases of stroke or specific brain injuries, typically results in anterograde amnesia, where individuals lose the ability to form new long-term memories after the injury.

AP Practice Test

AP Practice Test

Free AP Psychology Memory Exam Question and Answers