Dr Kang, a Cognitive Psychologist, Conducts an Experiment Examining the Effect

question 6

Multiple Choice

Dr. Kang, a cognitive psychologist, conducts an experiment examining the effect of emotion on memory. He provides lists of 15 words to two groups of participants at his university. He puts the names of all the participants in a hat. The first 20 names he assigns to Group A and the last 20 he assigns to Group B. Group A is given a list of words that are very emotional in content (e.g., passion, murder) . Group B is given a list of words that are neutral in content (e.g., houseplant, desk) . He then measures how many words each group is able to remember after being distracted for 5 minutes by watching a video about the history of the university. He finds that Group A remembers 15% more words than Group B.
Based on this study, Dr. Kang can make which of the following claims?

• A)Emotion enhances memory.
• B)Distraction is associated with worse memory.
• C)Group A has better memory than Group B.
• D)Fifteen percent of emotional words are remembered.

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Definitions:

Hypothalamus

A region of the brain below the thalamus that coordinates both the autonomic nervous system and the activity of the pituitary, controlling body temperature, thirst, hunger, and other homeostatic systems.

Nelson's Syndrome

A condition that occurs in some patients after the removal of the adrenal glands for Cushing's disease, characterized by the rapid growth of pituitary tumors.

Myxedema Coma

A severe, life-threatening condition characterized by an extreme hypothyroid state, leading to decreased mental status, hypothermia, and other systemic effects.

Thyrotropin

A hormone produced by the pituitary gland that stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones.