In One Experiment an Undergraduate Spent a Year and a Half

question 180

Multiple Choice

In one experiment an undergraduate spent a year and a half memorizing lists of numbers and recalling them immediately. By the end of the year, how had his memory changed-if at all?

• A) He had increased the capacity of his short-term memory not only for numbers (which he had practiced) but also for letters (which he had not practiced).
• B) He had improved his ability to use chunking to store more numbers in his short-term memory.
• C) The capacity of his short-term memory had decreased from seven to five.
• D) His ability to memorize had not changed in any way.

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Definitions:

Neurogenesis

The process by which new neurons are formed in the brain, a crucial aspect of brain plasticity and repair.

Plasticity

The ability of the brain to change and adapt as a result of experience or injury.

Medulla

An area at the base of the brainstem that controls vital life-sustaining functions such as heartbeat, breathing, and blood pressure.

Amygdala

A set of neurons located deep in the brain's medial temporal lobe, playing a key role in processing emotions such as fear and pleasure.