Psychology Chapter on Forgetting
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Questions and Answers

What is a common reason for forgetting information?

  • Too much information stored
  • Lack of attention during encoding (correct)
  • Memories are too emotionally charged
  • Overlearning the material

    • Forgetting is always considered a negative process.

    False

    Name one example of a situation that could lead to a failure to encode information.

    Distraction during learning

    Memories can fade or _____ over time.

    <p>decay</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of amnesia affects the ability to form new memories?

    <p>Anterograde amnesia</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the causes of forgetting with their descriptions:

    <p>Encoding failures = Issues during the initial memory formation Memory decay = Gradual loss of memory over time Interference = Conflicts between new and old memories Retrieval failures = Inability to access stored information</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Having too many distractions while studying can enhance memory recall.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who conducted early research on the decay of memories?

    <p>Hermann Ebbinghaus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What part of the brain is crucial for memory consolidation?

    <p>Hippocampus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Individuals with dissociative amnesia typically have a history of psychological trauma.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the type of amnesia that is a mental disorder and not attributed to brain injury?

    <p>functional amnesia</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In a dissociative fugue state, individuals may lose their ________ identity.

    <p>personal</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the types of amnesia with their characteristics:

    <p>Organic Amnesia = Memory loss due to brain injury Dissociative Amnesia = Unexplained memory loss often linked to trauma Retrograde Amnesia = Loss of memories from the past Anterograde Amnesia = Inability to form new memories</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a significant difference between organic amnesia and dissociative amnesia?

    <p>Organic amnesia stems from physical brain damage.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Memory loss in dissociative amnesia is likely to be permanent.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What mechanisms help explain everyday forgetting?

    <p>Encoding failures, decay, insufficient retrieval cues, interference, intentional attempts to forget</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Ebbinghaus primarily study?

    <p>Memory retention</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT one of the impediments to remembering?

    <p>Motivation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Forgetting always signifies that a memory is permanently lost.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the phenomenon called when old memories block the learning of new related memories?

    <p>Proactive interference</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Ebbinghaus found that memories diminish as time passes, with the most forgetting happening ____.

    <p>early on after learning</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the types of forgetting with their definitions:

    <p>Decay = Memories fade over time Interference = Other memories block retrieval Retrieval cue failure = Lack of sufficient reminders Deliberate forgetting = Actively trying to avoid a memory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is necessary for memory traces to last?

    <p>Consolidation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Retrieval cues can help to access seemingly forgotten memories.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can happen to memory representations when consolidation is interrupted?

    <p>They may not get fully developed and can be forgotten.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When trying to recall a memory, interference refers to memories that ____ with the desired recall.

    <p>get in the way</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which memory phenomenon suggests that recent traces might degrade due to new experiences?

    <p>Retroactive interference</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does anterograde amnesia refer to?

    <p>Inability to recall new information after the onset of memory loss</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The consolidation of memories occurs in the hippocampus only.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Forgetting is always considered a negative experience.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the result of competition between memories?

    <p>Forgetting or difficulty recalling a memory.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Memories can also be forgotten because individuals are ____ to keep them out of mind.

    <p>deliberately trying</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who is commonly associated with the study of anterograde amnesia?

    <p>H.M.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Individuals with retrograde amnesia often lose memories that occurred __________ the onset of their amnesia.

    <p>before</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the researchers with their relevant contributions to memory:

    <p>Ebbinghaus = Study of nonsense syllables Wixted = Proposed recent memory disruption McGaugh = Focus on memory consolidation Tulving = Importance of retrieval cues</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the type of amnesia with its definition:

    <p>Anterograde Amnesia = Inability to learn new information Retrograde Amnesia = Inability to recall past memories Temporally Graded Amnesia = Loss of recent memories while retaining older memories</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Shereshevsky's case illustrate about memory?

    <p>That recalling every detail can be maladaptive</p> Signup and view all the answers

    H.M. could learn new motor skills despite his memory impairment.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What part of the brain is primarily affected in anterograde amnesia?

    <p>Hippocampus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The process that allows us to retain relevant memories while letting go of irrelevant ones is known as __________.

    <p>adaptive forgetting</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the type of amnesia with its example:

    <p>Anterograde Amnesia = Inability to remember recent events Retrograde Amnesia = Inability to recall childhood memories Temporal Gradient in Retrograde Amnesia = Loss of recent memories but retention of older ones</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common misconception about amnesia based on popular depictions?

    <p>It always leads to complete memory loss.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Retrograde amnesia can occur without anterograde amnesia.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Describe a disadvantage of possessing an excellent memory, as highlighted by Shereshevsky.

    <p>Constant distraction from irrelevant details.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In patients with amnesia, the degree of memory loss depends on the extent of __________ damage.

    <p>medial temporal lobe</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of adaptive forgetting?

    <p>To forget details that can hinder daily life</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Causes of Forgetting

    • Forgetting can result from encoding failures, where information is not learned or stored effectively due to distractions or lack of attention.
    • Hermann Ebbinghaus' research indicates that memories decay over time, especially if not rehearsed; most forgetting occurs shortly after learning.
    • Inadequate retrieval cues lead to forgetting, as some memories may exist but are not accessible without the right prompts.
    • Interference can block memory retrieval, where similar or competing memories hinder the recall of desired information. This can manifest as proactive interference (old memories blocking new) or retroactive interference (new memories disrupting old).
    • Deliberately trying not to remember an event can also result in forgetting; suppressing thoughts may inhibit undesired memories, making them harder to recall over time.

    Adaptive Forgetting

    • Forgetting is seen as an adaptive process, enhancing efficiency by allowing individuals to focus on relevant memories and discard less significant ones.
    • The case of mnemonist Shereshevsky, who struggled with everyday functioning despite a vast memory capacity, illustrates that an overload of memories can hinder practical decision-making.
    • Forgetting helps individuals navigate life without being overwhelmed by an abundance of details, supporting a more efficient cognitive process.

    Amnesia

    • Anterograde amnesia involves the inability to form new memories after a neurological event, demonstrated by patient H.M., who could not remember events post-surgery despite intact short-term memory skills.
    • Retrograde amnesia refers to the loss of pre-existing memories before the onset of amnesia. This often shows a temporal gradient, with older memories being retained more reliably than recent ones.
    • Amnesic symptoms often correlate with damage to the medial temporal lobes and the hippocampus, essential for memory consolidation and long-term storage.
    • Distinction exists between organic amnesia (due to brain injury) and functional/dissociative amnesia (often linked to trauma and not explained by physical injury).
    • Functional amnesia typically entails retrograde memory loss and may involve episodes where individuals lose personal identity or autobiographical memories, such as in dissociative fugue states.

    Conclusion

    • Everyday episodes of forgetting are common and serve vital roles in maintaining cognitive efficiency, allowing us to focus on essential information while discarding the trivial.
    • Amnesiac conditions illustrate the extremes of memory impairment and the adaptive capacities of forgetting in daily living, highlighting the importance of memory processes in our functioning lives.

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    Description

    This quiz explores the reasons behind forgetting and distinguishes between anterograde and retrograde amnesia. Learn about how forgetting can serve as an adaptive process and gain insights through relevant examples. Test your understanding of memory and its complexities!

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