Psychology Degree Cognitive Psychology and Memory 5

Question 1

Which theory proposes that forgetting occurs because memory traces fade over time without rehearsal, rather than because of interference from other memories?

Accepted Answer

Decay theory

Answer

Decay theory attributes forgetting to the gradual fading of the memory trace (engram) due to the passage of time and disuse.

Question 2

What distinguishes 'recall' from 'recognition' as measures of memory?

Accepted Answer

Recall requires reproducing information without cues; recognition requires identifying previously encountered information from options

Answer

Recall (e.g., free recall, cued recall) requires active retrieval with few or no cues, while recognition provides the target among alternatives for identification.

Question 3

Which phenomenon describes surprisingly vivid and detailed (though not always accurate) memories for personally significant, emotionally charged public events?

Accepted Answer

Flashbulb memory

Answer

Flashbulb memories are highly detailed, confident recollections of the circumstances surrounding a shocking public event, though their accuracy degrades over time like other memories.

Question 4

A researcher finds that participants remember more words when tested in the same underwater environment where they originally learned them. This is evidence for:

Accepted Answer

Context-dependent memory

Answer

Godden and Baddeley's (1975) classic scuba-diver study demonstrated context-dependent memory: retrieval is best when the environmental context at test matches that at encoding.

Question 5

Which neurotransmitter system is most directly implicated in the emotional enhancement of memory consolidation, particularly for fear-based memories?

Accepted Answer

Norepinephrine acting on the amygdala

Answer

Norepinephrine released during emotionally arousing events activates beta-adrenergic receptors in the amygdala, which modulates hippocampal consolidation and enhances long-term retention of emotional memories.

Psychology Degree Practice Test

Psychology Degree Practice Test

Psychology Degree Cognitive Psychology and Memory 5