What types of distractions create the most impairment of short-term memory?

a) Distractions that affect the same sensory systems
b) Distractions that affect different sensory systems
c) Distractions that affect the opposite sensory systems
d) Distractions that affect all of the sensory systems


ANS: A, Distractions that affect the same sensory systems seem to create the most impairment. In other words, if you are listening to someone on your phone, while trying to listen to something on TV, you may have trouble remembering what was said on either. Listening to someone on the phone while folding your laundry, on the other hand, may not result in the same level of memory interference.

Psychology

You might also like to view...

Which of the following is NOT associated with moderating or reducing the effects of stress?

a. relaxation b. optimism c. humor d. suppressing pent-up emotions

Psychology

When Likert scaling is used, people taking the test often rate their agreement with items on a scale of ____

a. 1 to 5 b. 1 to 10 c. 0 to 1 d. 10 to 20

Psychology

The ____________________ theory of emotion argues that body reactions precede and drive the subjective experience of emotions

Fill in the blank(s) with correct word

Psychology

A witness identifies an innocent person seen somewhere else as the perpetrator of a crime. The main reason for this mistake in memory occurring is that

a. new information tends to "overwrite" semantic memories. b. people often cannot remember the source of a memory. c. procedural memories are easily confused by similar information. d. the serial position effect is causing the incorrect retrieval.

Psychology