Biological
Clocks
Clocks
Snooze Science
Nocturnal Knowledge
REM to Remember
Dream Team
Snooze & Recall
Cognitive Chronicles
Recollection Roundup
Memory Lane
Total
Recall-ish
Recall-ish
100
As the night falls, Sally starts feeling sleepy, and her body begins to wind down for rest. What hormone is likely to be secreted by her pineal gland to regulate her sleep-wake cycle?
Melatonin
100
Your friend says they only sleep 5.5 hours a night but still feel totally fine. You sleep 9.5 and still feel tired without it. What does this suggest about your sleep types?
Your friend is likely a short sleeper; you may be a long sleeper.
100
Picture yourself in the middle of a fascinating, action-packed dream. You're likely experiencing this stage of sleep, marked by vivid, intense dreaming. What is the name of this stage?
REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep
100
What is one biological difference between Early Birds and Night Owls in terms of body temperature rhythm?
Early Birds reach peak body temperature around 8 AM, while Night Owls peak around 8 PM or later.
100
You catch yourself staring out the window, thinking about how to handle a conflict with a close friend. You’re not asleep, but your mind is clearly wandering as you imagine different ways the conversation could go. What are you doing, and why might this be a helpful mental tool?
Daydreaming.
It helps with problem solving by letting you mentally explore different outcomes and prepare emotionally.
100
This stage of sleep is often referred to as “paradoxical sleep.” What makes it paradoxical?
Because brain activity is high (similar to being awake), but the body is mostly paralyzed.
100
You’re shown a list where each word is matched with another (like “dog–ball”). Later, you're asked to remember the second word when given the first. What kind of learning is this?
Paired-associate learning
100
What cognitive strategy involves improving memory and increase working memory capacity?
Chunking
Particularly effective for remembering long lists, sequences, or complex information by breaking it down into smaller, more easily remembered units.
100
What is anterograde amnesia
Type of memory impairment characterized by the inability to form new memories after the onset of amnesia.
Individuals with anterograde amnesia may have intact memories of events that occurred before the onset of amnesia, but they struggle to encode and retain new information or experiences.
100
What is the name for 'classic amnesia,' and what type of amnesia does it refer to?
Retrograde amnesia is a type of amnesia characterized by the loss of memories for events or information that occurred before the onset of amnesia.
Individuals with retrograde amnesia may have difficulty recalling past experiences, knowledge, or personal information.
200
Jerry works night shifts regularly and struggles to adjust to his sleep-wake schedule. What is the term for the internal biological clock that regulates his sleep patterns and makes it difficult to adapt to this shift?
Circadian Rhythm
200
In your deep slumber, you're in a stage of sleep where your brain produces slow delta waves, and it's tough to wake you up. If someone does wake you, you'll likely feel disoriented. What stage are you in?
Stage 3 or Stage 4
Slow-Wave Sleep
200
Imagine you're about to fall asleep, and suddenly, you feel a sensation of being held down with an inability to move or scream.
What sleep phenomenon is this and when is it most commonly to take place?
Sleep Paralysis
Entering or Exiting REM
200
What helps keep the circadian rhythm on a consistent 24-hour cycle, and how does it influence alertness and sleep?
Exposure to sunlight helps keep the circadian rhythm regular by signaling the brain to suppress melatonin during the day (promoting alertness) and allowing melatonin levels to rise at night (promoting sleep).
200
What are two key characteristics of NREM sleep, and which stages of sleep are included in it?
Quiet Sleep because no brain activity & no body movements. Body recovery & reduced HR
Stages 1 - 4
200
Provide an example of something that starts off as explicit memory and then moves on to implicit memory.
Explain what this transition means.
Learning to ride a bicycle.
Initially, when someone is learning to ride a bike, they rely on explicit memory to remember the instructions, techniques, and rules involved, such as how to balance, pedal, and steer.
With practice and repetition, these skills become automatized, and the process of riding a bike becomes more automatic and effortless.
At this stage, the memory of how to ride a bike transitions from explicit to implicit memory. Implicit memory is non-conscious and involves the recall of information without conscious effort or awareness.
200
The Information Processing System in psychology includes three main parts. Describe what each part does, and provide an example to explain how they work together.
Encoding: The process of turning sensory input into a form that can be stored.
Storage: Keeping that information over time.
Retrieval: Accessing the stored information when needed.
Example: like writing, saving, and opening a file on a computer
200
A witness to a robbery hears others say the thief wore a red hat. Later, she confidently remembers seeing a red hat herself, even though the thief wasn’t wearing one. How might hearing others’ version of events influence what she remembers?
Other people’s versions of events can shape or distort someone’s memory, especially when they’re unsure. Memory can be changed by what we hear after the fact, even if it’s inaccurate.
200
When you remember your friend’s phone number from memory and say it out loud, which memory system did you pull the information from, and where is it being used now?
You retrieved it from long-term memory and are using it in working memory.
200
After cramming for an exam, Jonah never looked at the material again. A month later, he remembers almost nothing. Which theory of forgetting explains this, and why?
Decay theory — because he didn’t review or rehearse the material, the memory trace weakened and faded.
300
A person's body temperature gradually rises during the day, reaching its peak in the late afternoon. What aspect of the Circadian rhythm is responsible for this temperature pattern?
Sleep-Wake Cycle
300
You're looking to quickly recharge your energy and enhance alertness during the day. What type of nap should you take & which sleep stage does it primarily occur?
Power nap (20 min) and it primarily targets lighter NREM.
300
Imagine you've been sleep-deprived for several nights, and when you finally get a full night's rest, you experience more dreams than normal. What phenomenon are you likely encountering?
REM Rebound
300
What are two key characteristics of NREM sleep, and which stages of sleep are included in it?
REM sleep is marked by slower brain activity and reduced body movement. It includes Stages 1, 2, 3, and 4 of sleep.
300
David, a middle-aged man, wakes up multiple times each night because he briefly stops breathing. He’s always exhausted during the day. What sleep disorder does he likely have, and what causes the daytime sleepiness?
Sleep apnea; the repeated awakenings disrupt his sleep quality, causing daytime drowsiness.
300
In a famous study, participants watched a car crash and were later asked how fast the cars were going when they “hit” or “smashed” into each other. What memory concept does this study demonstrate, and what did it reveal?
Priming. The study showed that exposure to certain words (like “smashed”) can influence how people later remember an event, leading to changes in speed estimates and even false memories.
300
What are the two types of rehearsal, and which one is better for long-term memory retention, and why?
Maintenance rehearsal involves simple repetition of information to keep it in short-term memory, while elaborative rehearsal involves deeper processing by making meaningful connections between new information and existing knowledge.
Elaborative rehearsal is better for long-term memory retention because it encourages semantic encoding, which facilitates deeper understanding and integration of information into existing memory networks.
Elaborative rehearsal enhances memory durability by creating multiple retrieval paths and associations, making the information more readily accessible for future recall.
300
What advice might a researcher offer regarding studying for an upcoming exam in relation to cue-dependent memory?
Match study conditions to exam conditions: Study in environments similar to the exam setting to capitalize on state-dependent learning.
Create self-referent cues: Reflect on how the information makes you feel or what memories it evokes, and incorporate those emotional and physiological cues into your study materials. When studying, try to evoke the same emotional state or mindset that you anticipate experiencing during the exam, as this can facilitate memory retrieval based on state-dependent learning principles.
300
Why is the cognitive interview better for recall than a traditional police interview?
The cognitive interview employs techniques such as open-ended questioning, mental reinstatement of context, and encouraging witnesses to report everything they remember, even if seemingly trivial.
These techniques help to maximize the retrieval of accurate information from memory by facilitating a more comprehensive and detailed recall of events.
300
Two students are studying for an exam. One repeats terms over and over, while the other explains the concepts, asks questions, and makes real-world connections. Use levels of processing theory to explain who is more likely to remember the material and why.
The second student, because deeper processing leads to stronger, longer-lasting memories through meaningful engagement with the material.
400
What two factors tend to increase the severity of the symptoms of jet lag?
Crossing many time zones & west to east travel
400
At what stage of life do people generally require less sleep, and which specific sleep stage also decreases during this time?
Adulthood & REM
400
You’re interviewing someone for a sleep study. They report falling asleep suddenly during the day without warning. You recommend treatment involving stimulants and antidepressants. What disorder do they likely have, and what category of sleep disorders does it fall under?
Narcolepsy; it’s a type of hypersomnia.
400
During a sleep study, a patient physically acts out their dreams—swinging their arms and even attacking their bed partner. What part of REM sleep has failed, and what disorder is this?
The part of REM sleep that normally "fails" here is the mechanism that causes temporary muscle paralysis during dreaming.
The official name for this is REM sleep behavior disorder, or RBD
400
Sleepwalking is most common in which age group, and why isn’t there a medical treatment for it?
It’s most common in children. There’s no treatment because many children stop sleepwalking naturally as their nervous system matures.
400
What is the consolidation hypothesis in the context of memory? Explain what it means and create a metaphor to show how it works.
The consolidation hypothesis suggests that new memories need time to become stable and long-lasting. During this period, especially during sleep, the brain strengthens and stores the memory.
Example: like saving a document - you can type it out, but if you don’t hit “save,” it could be lost. Sleep is like pressing save.
400
What is the difference between retroactive and proactive interference in memory? Provide an example for each.
Retroactive Interference:When newly learned information disrupts the recall of previously learned information. For example, if you learn a new password for a website and then later have trouble remembering the old password, retroactive interference may be at play.
Proactive Interference: When previously learned information interferes with the encoding and retrieval of new information. For instance, if you've previously learned how to ride a bike using a particular technique and then try to learn a new, different technique, the old technique may interfere with your ability to master the new one.
400
Why are people more likely to remember the first and last items on a list, but forget the ones in the middle? Name and briefly explain both effects involved.
The primacy effect helps recall early items because they had more time to be encoded into long-term memory.
The recency effect helps recall later items because they are still in working memory.
Middle items often get lost between these two effects.
400
Provide an example of an episodic and a semantic memory.
Can either of these be a flashbulb memory?
Why or why not?
Episodic memory could be recalling your high school graduation ceremony, including details such as who attended, what you wore, and how you felt during the event.
Semantic memory could be knowing that Paris is the capital of France, without any personal context or recollection attached to the information.
Episodic memories are typically personal experiences tied to specific events and contexts, whereas semantic memories are factual knowledge independent of personal experience.
Flashbulb memories are typically vivid, detailed recollections of significant and emotionally charged events, such as the assassination of a prominent figure or a major historical event.
While both episodic and semantic memories can contribute to flashbulb memories, the episodic component is more dominant. Flashbulb memories often involve a strong emotional response and are characterized by their perceived clarity and accuracy.
400
After years of hearing her family talk about a trip to the zoo, Ava vividly “remembers” feeding a giraffe—even though she wasn’t actually there. What does this scenario show about how memory works?
Memory is flexible and can be shaped by repeated exposure to other people’s stories, even creating false memories.
500
You've just completed a long-haul flight that took you from New York to London, and you're feeling quite disoriented. Despite the local time showing morning, your body is convinced it's still the middle of the night. What term describes this phenomenon when your body's internal clock lags behind the local time after eastward travel?
Phase Delay
500
Imagine you're in the middle of a cozy nap. Your brain begins to show brief bursts of activity and sudden spikes as it settles into deeper rest.
What stage of sleep are you in, and what are these bursts and spikes called? Explain their purpose.
Stage 2
Sleep spindles & response to unexpected or significant sensory events, potentially protecting your sleep by enhancing arousal if needed.
500
You have 45 seconds to draw the first full sleep cycle, including how long the average cycle lasts.
Approximately 90 - 100 minutes.
500
Two people report scary experiences while sleeping. One person remembers the frightening dream and was easy to wake up. The other had no memory of the event and was very hard to wake. What is the difference between a nightmare and a sleep terror? Include the sleep stage where each one occurs.
Nightmares happen during REM sleep, involve vivid dream recall, and the person is easy to wake.
Sleep terrors happen during Stage 4 (deep NREM) sleep, involve no memory, and the person is difficult to wake.
500
A man is on trial for a violent act but claims he was sleepwalking when it happened. What kind of evidence would most strongly support that his actions were not under conscious control?
A documented history of sleepwalking and amnesia for the event.
500
You remember hearing an interesting fact but can’t tell if it came from a science podcast or a random TikTok comment. What kind of memory mistake is happening here?
You’re remembering the information itself but not where you learned it. This kind of error can happen when we separate the content of a memory from its original context. It can make it harder to judge how trustworthy or accurate the information is.
500
You have 45 seconds to draw the memory model, including its components and stages
500
Explain how someone can create a false memory without realizing it, even if they didn’t intend to lie.
Through false memory—people can genuinely believe in inaccurate or made-up events, often due to suggestion or repeated imagination.
500
Explain how semantic and episodic memories differ in their entry into Long-Term Memory
They differ in their entry into LTM in terms of their encoding processes and the types of information they store.
Episodic memories involve the encoding of personal experiences
Semantic memories involve the encoding of general knowledge, facts, and concepts that are independent of personal experience or context.
Episodic memories, involving personal experiences and events, often have a strong emotional or contextual component that inherently facilitates their encoding and storage without explicit rehearsal. The vividness and richness of episodic memories, along with their autobiographical significance, contribute to their durability in LTM without the need for extensive rehearsal.
Semantic memories, typically require some form of rehearsal or elaboration to ensure their retention in LTM. Because semantic memories lack the personal context, they may be more susceptible to forgetting without deliberate rehearsal or association with existing knowledge.
Therefore, while both types of memories contribute to LTM, episodic memories often enter LTM more readily and robustly, whereas semantic memories may require additional cognitive effort to establish and maintain
500
Explain how the spacing effect, the forgetting curve, and cramming are connected.
Why does one strategy lead to stronger long-term memory than the other?
The forgetting curve shows that we forget information quickly without review.
Cramming leads to fast forgetting because it's done all at once with no spacing.
The spacing effect helps slow down forgetting by reinforcing the material over time. Spacing out study sessions interrupts the forgetting curve and leads to better long-term memory than cramming.
600
While under pressure, this character keeps track of new info and adjusts in real time.
What part of memory is most likely at work here, and what strategy is she using to stay on top of it?
That working memory is the most active system here (she’s juggling multiple pieces of information at once, in the moment).
That she’s likely using a memory strategy, such as:
Chunking (e.g., organizing by visual features like color, or grouping orders),
Or categorization, to reduce load.