Pymetrics Games Memory and Learning Games 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does it mean if a Pymetrics candidate shows a strong 'recency effect' in a memory sequence task?
- They better recall items at the end of a list than those in the middle (Correct answer)
- They recall the first item in a list most accurately
- They perform equally well across all list positions
- They confuse similar-looking symbols most often
Correct answer: They better recall items at the end of a list than those in the middle
The recency effect means items at the end of a sequence are recalled best because they are still active in short-term memory at the time of recall.
Question 2: In cognitive science terms, what process does a Pymetrics 'card flip' memory game primarily rely on?
- Visuospatial working memory and location binding (Correct answer)
- Semantic categorization
- Autobiographical memory retrieval
- Auditory sensory memory
Correct answer: Visuospatial working memory and location binding
Card flip games require holding and updating spatial locations of hidden images, engaging the visuospatial sketchpad of working memory.
Question 3: How does 'loss aversion' interact with learning in Pymetrics reward-based games?
- Highly loss-averse players update their strategy more after losses than after equivalent gains (Correct answer)
- Loss-averse players show faster overall learning rates
- Loss aversion has no measurable effect on memory game performance
- Loss aversion increases a player's willingness to explore new options
Correct answer: Highly loss-averse players update their strategy more after losses than after equivalent gains
Loss aversion causes individuals to weight negative outcomes more heavily, making losses stronger learning signals than gains of the same magnitude.
Question 4: If a Pymetrics task shows you a sequence of numbers and then asks you to recall them in reverse order, which cognitive resource is most taxed?
- The central executive of working memory (Correct answer)
- Long-term declarative memory
- The phonological store only
- Implicit procedural memory
Correct answer: The central executive of working memory
Reversing a sequence requires the central executive to actively manipulate information held in working memory, not just passively rehearse it.
Question 5: In a Pymetrics probabilistic learning task, what behavior signals 'over-exploration'?
- Continuously switching choices even after finding a high-reward option (Correct answer)
- Immediately fixating on the first rewarding option found
- Ignoring feedback entirely and selecting randomly
- Slowing response time on every successive trial
Correct answer: Continuously switching choices even after finding a high-reward option
Over-exploration means a candidate keeps sampling new options instead of committing to a known good one, reflecting difficulty with exploitation.
Question 6: What does 'interference' mean in the context of Pymetrics memory tasks?
- Previously or subsequently learned information disrupting accurate recall (Correct answer)
- A technical lag between stimulus display and response recording
- The emotional distraction caused by high-stakes testing
- An error in the card-matching algorithm
Correct answer: Previously or subsequently learned information disrupting accurate recall
Interference occurs when competing memories — either from before or after learning — reduce the accuracy of target memory retrieval.
Question 7: Which Pymetrics trait is BEST captured by how quickly a candidate adjusts after an unexpected outcome?
- Cognitive flexibility / adaptability (Correct answer)
- Attention to detail
- Risk tolerance
- Emotional stability
Correct answer: Cognitive flexibility / adaptability
Rapid adjustment after unexpected outcomes reflects cognitive flexibility, the ability to update mental models when the environment changes.
Pymetrics Games Memory and Learning Games 3
What does it mean if a Pymetrics candidate shows a strong 'recency effect' in a memory sequence task?