GRE Subject Test: Psychology : Types of Memory
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Subject Test: Psychology
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Types Of Memory
A student is cramming for a final examination, and decides to use a cue in the form of a nursery rhyme to remember a particularly hard formula. On the morning of the examination, the student is so nervous that she forgets the nursery rhyme. She cannot correctly answer the questions related to the formula. This scenario is an example of which of the following errors in memory?
Storage error
Declarative error
Procedural error
Recall error
Encoding error
Recall error
A retrieval error—in this case, a feature cue error—in memory is any error, which results from a failure to correctly recall information that was successfully stored in long-term memory. If a cue fails to produce a strong enough association with a word or an interfering event prevents complete remembering of a prior event, then a retrieval error is said to have occurred.
Example Question #2 : Memory
What is another term for short-term memory that is associated with the storage of small amounts of data without manipulation?
Working memory
Primary memory
Sensory memory
Prospective memory
Remote memory
Primary memory
“Primary memory” is another word for short-term memory. It can hold information for up to 30 seconds without manipulation. On the other hand, “working memory” is a form of short-term memory that involves manipulation of information. “Sensory memory” transmits visual or auditory messages into data that can be stored, and lasts a few seconds. “Remote memory” is a form of long-term memory that lasts two years or more. Last, “prospective memory” is memory associated with future events.
Example Question #1 : Types Of Memory
Which of the following examples best illustrates episodic memory?
Your little brother reciting the alphabet
Remembering that you got a bike for your 12th birthday.
A classmate understanding a conversation in Creole
Your little sister spewing off her numbers in Mandarin
Your best friend knowing that Christopher Columbus sailed in 1492
Remembering that you got a bike for your 12th birthday.
Episodic memory is the conscious memory that deals with remembering personal life events. The only choice that could be described as a personal life event is "remembering that you got a bike for your 12th birthday."
Example Question #4 : Memory
Alexus is really into the book she’s reading when Carl asks her a question. She stops reading and asks, “what did you say?” As soon as she asks this question she realizes that she can recall Carl's exact words. Which of the following is the reason for her ability to play these words back in her mind?
Sensory memory
Short-term memory
Semantic memory
Echoic memory
Iconic memory
Echoic memory
"Echoic memory" is a component of sensory memory that retains auditory information for a limited amount of time. It is like a holding tank that keeps the sound unprocessed until it is heard again. At this time, the sound is turned into something meaningful.
Example Question #2 : Types Of Memory
Mnemonic devices such as chunking, method of loci, and other memory aids help increase retention during which of the following memory stages?
Both working memory and long term memory
Short term memory
Both working memory and short term memory
Long term memory
Working memory
Both working memory and short term memory
Both working and short term types of memory benefit from mnemonic devices, since mnemonic devices are specific aids to help the brain encode information from elementary forms of memory into long term memory. Memory aids are designed to strengthen working and short term memory in an effort to increase long term memory at a later stage.
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All GRE Subject Test: Psychology Resources
