Psychology Chapter 6: Memory and Forgetting

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Questions and Answers

What is the effect of mental inactivity following learning on memory?

It enhances consolidation and prevents forgetting (correct)

It leads to memory loss over time

It increases the likelihood of retrograde amnesia

It has no significant effect on memory retention

How does sleeping after learning compare to being awake for memory retention?

Both states have equal effects on memory

Sleep enhances memory retention better than being awake (correct)

Being awake is more beneficial for memory retention

Going to sleep leads to worse memory retention

What effect does interruption before consolidation have on memory?

It enhances the memory of the learned material

It has no significant impact on memory retention

It prevents consolidation and impairs memory storage (correct)

It helps in the consolidation of memories

What relationship is observed between the delay before electroconvulsive shock (ECS) and memory retention?

Longer delays result in better memory retention Signup and view all the answers

What is indicated by studies on retrograde amnesia about memory consolidation?

Memories lost were not consolidated properly Signup and view all the answers

What benefit does spaced repetition provide in learning?

Stronger memory retention over long delays Signup and view all the answers

What is one key finding regarding testing and memory?

Testing improves memory more than relearning Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following explains retrieval failure?

Inability to find previously learned information Signup and view all the answers

What is the main distinction between encoding failure and retrieval failure?

Encoding failure occurs when information is never learned Signup and view all the answers

In what context does the law of repetition not consistently hold true?

Quantum mechanics Signup and view all the answers

Which phenomenon supports the effectiveness of spaced repetition in classroom settings?

Replicated studies demonstrate learning improvements Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of memory is affected by long delays in testing?

Spaced conditions provide a significant advantage Signup and view all the answers

Why can some laws not be observed consistently?

External factors can interfere with observations Signup and view all the answers

What is the main benefit of retrieval practice according to the information provided?

It helps items that were practiced perform better than unpracticed items. Signup and view all the answers

What does RIF stand for in the context of retrieval practice?

Retrieval Induced Forgetting Signup and view all the answers

How does the Inhibition Theory explain the difficulty in recalling other items from the same category?

Other category items are suppressed. Signup and view all the answers

Which example best illustrates the Inhibition Theory?

Having trouble recalling 'pomegranate' after identifying 'orange'. Signup and view all the answers

What alternative explanation is proposed for the results observed in retrieval practice?

Strengthening some associations hinders recall of others. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of retrieval practice, what does practicing some category members primarily strengthen?

Associations between exampling items. Signup and view all the answers

What outcome is suggested when retrieving 'orange' as a cue in the context of fruits?

'Orange' is recalled at the cost of other fruits. Signup and view all the answers

According to Inhibition Theory, what happens when you retrieve one item from a practiced category?

Other items in the category are inhibited. Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant predictor of forgetting as indicated by Underwood's analysis?

The number of previous experimental trials Signup and view all the answers

What factor contributed to the quick worsening of memory after the initial 20 seconds in the first trial?

Proactive interference from previous trials Signup and view all the answers

What prediction does interference theory make when the type of stimulus is switched during trials?

Performance will improve Signup and view all the answers

In the study by Wickens, Born, and Allen, what manipulation led to a release from proactive interference?

Switching from letters to digits Signup and view all the answers

How does Consolidation Theory describe learned memories during the perseveration period?

Memories are vulnerable and subject to forgetting Signup and view all the answers

What is the outcome if consolidation does not occur according to Consolidation Theory?

The memory will be forgotten Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a manipulation that leads to a release from proactive interference?

Increasing the number of previous trials Signup and view all the answers

What happens to short-term memory performance when more consonants are learned?

It leads to confusion with previous stimuli Signup and view all the answers

What is a unique prediction of inhibition theory regarding strong competitors during retrieval practice?

They are suppressed and should exhibit large RIF effects. Signup and view all the answers

According to inhibition theory, what occurs with weak competitor items during retrieval practice?

They require no suppression since they do not intrude. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately reflects the predictions of inhibition theory?

Strong retrieval-practice exemplars should show the strongest RIF effects. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of interference theory, how is forgetting characterized?

As cue-dependent where associations affect recall difficulty. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the retrieval-induced forgetting (RIF) for non-retrieved presentations?

Non-retrieved presentations exhibit worse RIF effects than retrieved items. Signup and view all the answers

What effect does interference have on recall when there are multiple associations to a cue?

It inhibits memory retrieval. Signup and view all the answers

When a participant recalls the word 'banana' but first thinks of 'orange', what concept is being illustrated?

The effects of retrieval-induced forgetting. Signup and view all the answers

What does a zero RIF effect on the y-axis imply regarding retrieval practice?

No retrieval-induced forgetting occurs for weak competitors. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Law of Repetition

Spaced repetition promotes better long-term learning
Repetition with short delays can sometimes help
Testing improves memory beyond re-studying

Forgetting

Forgetting can occur due to encoding failure or retrieval failure
Encoding failure: Not learning the material properly
Retrieval failure: Initially learned the material but unable to retrieve it later
Proactive interference: Previous learning interferes with new learning
Underwood (1957): More previous trials lead to poorer performance
Keppel & Underwood (1962): Almost no forgetting in the first 20 seconds

Release from Proactive Interference

Wickens, Born, and Allen (1963): Switching stimulus type leads to better performance
Changing modality, semantic category, or part of speech can improve performance
Short-term memory is also affected by interference

Consolidation Theory

Consolidation theory: Learned memories are in a vulnerable state initially (perseveration period)
Memories survive the perseveration period and enter the consolidation phase
Consolidation ensures permanent storage of memories

Predictions of Consolidation Theory

Mental inactivity after learning enhances consolidation
Interruption before consolidation prevents memory storage
Retrograde amnesia: Loss of past memories due to trauma

Retrograde Amnesia

Hippocampal amnesics: Loss of recent memories
Electroconvulsive shock (ECS) and removal of the hippocampus: Induce retrograde amnesia
Longer delay between learning and trauma, better memory: Supports consolidation theory

Retrieval-Induced Forgetting (RIF)

Anderson, Bjork, and Bjork (1994): RIF provides evidence for inhibition theory
Strong competitors during retrieval practice are suppressed and show larger RIF effects
Weak competitors show little RIF effects

Inhibition Theory

RIF is cue-dependent
More associations to a cue make it harder to remember something

Interference Dependence of Inhibition Theory

Strong Rp- exemplars show strongest RIF effects
Weak Rp- exemplars show almost no RIF effects

Cue Independence of Inhibition Theory

Forgetting is cue-dependent
More associations to a cue make it harder to remember something

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Description

Explore the concepts of memory encoding, forgetting, and the benefits of repetition in this quiz focused on Psychology Chapter 6. Test your knowledge on how spaced repetition and proactive interference can impact learning and memory retention.