1.1- The Science of Learning

Question 1

Long-term potentiation involves a cascade of chemical reactions that ultimately results in _ becoming larger and increasing their number of synaptic receptors.

Answer 1

Dendrites

Question 2

Brain cells are called _.

Answer 2

Neurons

Question 3

As information newly encoded into long-term memory is repeatedly retrieved and used, _ occurs (mostly while you _). The more this process is repeated, the stronger and more durable our memory of the information will be.

Answer 3

Consolidation, Sleep

Question 4

Learning is the act or process of transferring information from one’s _ memory to one’s _ memory so that it can be retrieved and applied when needed.

Answer 4

Working, long-term

Question 5

The part of the brain that encodes and consolidates the emotional components of a memory is the _.

Answer 5

Amygdala

Question 6

Long-term memories are stored in one specific region of the brain.

Answer 6

False

Question 7

What does working memory do?
a. It receives incoming information from sensory memory.
b. It retrieves prior knowledge from long-term memory.
c. It integrates information pulled from sensory and long-term memory.
d. It generates cognitive output such as answers to test questions.
Selected: e. Working memory does all of these things.

Answer 7

e

Question 8

With memory consolidation, the synapses between the neurons that comprise a particular network become physically stronger.

Answer 8

True

Question 9

Once created, connections between neurons in a network will be maintained even if the neurons involved are not regularly sending and receiving signals.

Answer 9

False

Question 10

Sets of interconnected neurons that link pieces of related information together are called _.

Answer 10

neural networks, neural network.

Question 11

Each neuron makes thousands of connections with other neurons.

Answer 11

True

Question 12

Synaptic pruning eliminates weak or ineffective connections between neurons through a process called _ in which neurons self-destruct.

Answer 12

Apoptosis

Question 13

Long-term memories are stored throughout the cortex according to what type of information they contain (verbal, visual, spatial, olfactory, etc.)

Answer 13

True

Question 14

A neural network in the brain represents what?

a. A chunk of information stored in working memory
b. A chunk of information stored in long-term memory
c. A single fact stored in long-term memory
d. A single fact stored in working memory

Answer 14

b

Question 15

Sets of interconnected neurons that link pieces of related information together are called _.

Answer 15

Neural network

Question 16

When we learn a new motor skill, a slightly different physical change occurs compared to what happens when we learn new factual information, specifically the thickening of a neuron’s _.

Answer 16

myelin sheath.

Question 17

You believe you were born with an innate natural talent, creativity, or intelligence (or lack thereof).

Answer 17

Fixed mindset

Question 18

The current model of human learning and memory used by educational psychologists; describes memory as having 3 components: sensory memory, working memory, and long-term memory. _

Answer 18

Information processing theory

Question 19

The biochemical process through which memory consolidation occurs is called _ It occurs when the same group of neurons fire together so often that they become permanently sensitized to each other.

Answer 19

long-term potentiation

Question 20

Synaptic pruning eliminates weak or ineffective connections between neurons through a process called _ in which neurons self-destruct.

Answer 20

Apoptosis

Question 21

A meaningful unit of information is called a _.

Answer 21

Chunk

Question 22

When neurotransmitters are released into the synapse by the axon terminals of one neuron, an _ signal is generated in the next neuron, which is then passed along through its axon to the next neuron.

Answer 22

Electrical

Question 23

_ is triggered by high frequency stimulation of the synapses.

Answer 23

Long-term potentiation

Question 24

The initial processing and transferring of information from one type of memory to another is called _.

Answer 24

Encoding

Question 25

The parts of the brain that encode and consolidate procedural memories such as how to ride a bike, drive a car, or play the piano are the _ and the _.

Answer 25

basal ganglia, cerebellum

Question 26

Only the information that you choose to _ will be transferred from sensory memory to working memory.

Answer 26

Pay attention to

Question 27

Sets of interconnected neurons that link pieces of related information together are called _.

Answer 27

neural networks, neural network.

Question 28

Using the phrase “Two Zebras Bit My Chin” to remember the 5 branches of the facial nerve is an example of a _.

Answer 28

mneumonic

Question 29

Students tend to prefer blocked practice because… (Check all that apply.)

a. you have to look for clues about which problem-solving strategy to apply.
b. it creates a sence of fluency or familiarity, which results in a feeling of confidence that you’ve mastered the problem or topic.
c. problem-solving becomes easier because you are using the same strategy over and over.
d. you encounter topics or problems in the same order that they will be presented on the test.

Answer 29

b, c

Question 30

Mneumonics given to you by your teacher are easier to remember than mneumonics you create yourself.

Answer 30

False

Question 31

_ can both assess what you do and do not know as well as strengthen the memory of the information you are trying to recall?

Answer 31

Retrieval practice

Question 32

Dual coding refers to the combination of _ and _ information.

Answer 32

verbal, visual

Question 33

Learning is more durable when you expand the gaps between your tests because your brain doesn’t have to work as hard to find the right answer.

Answer 33

False

Question 34

It is the active integration of new and existing knowledge that makes learning more durable and strengthens your ability to recall what you know at test time.

Answer 34

True

Question 35

When you make things hard on yourself, but in a good way, you are creating _.

Answer 35

desirable difficulties

Question 36

The current model of human learning and memory used by educational psychologists; describes memory as having 3 components: sensory memory, working memory, and long-term memory. _

Answer 36

Information Processing Theory

Question 37

When you are struggling with a concept, you should think to yourself, how can I explain this so that a 10-year-old could understand it.

Answer 37

True

Question 38

Albert Einstein said, “If you can’t explain it to a 6-year-old, you don’t understand it yourself.”

Answer 38

True

Question 39

Testing is a powerful learning strategy because it forces us to retrieve information from our long-term memory.

Answer 39

True

Question 40

Using analogies to help explain difficult concepts is a part of the “Explain and Elaborate” learning strategy.

Answer 40

True

Question 41

The memory palace technique takes advantage of our powerful _ and _ memory.

Answer 41

Visual, spatial

Question 42

Students tend to prefer blocked practice because… (Check all that apply.)

a. it creates a sence of fluency or familiarity, which results in a feeling of confidence that you’ve mastered the problem or topic.
b. you have to look for clues about which problem-solving strategy to apply.
c. problem-solving becomes easier because you are using the same strategy over and over.
d. you encounter topics or problems in the same order that they will be presented on the test.

Answer 42

a, c

Question 43

The opposite of interleaving is _ practice.

Answer 43

blocked, massed

Question 44

When you make things hard on yourself, but in a good way, you are creating _.

Answer 44

desirable difficulties

Question 45

The point of connection between one neuron and the next is called a _.

Answer 45

synapse

Question 46

The memorization technique that works best for lists, steps, and groupings for information is

Answer 46

menumonics

Question 47

Cramming doesn’t produce learning because… (Check all that apply.)

a. unless you practice retrieving the information you need to learn over time, you’ll forget it.
b. cramming only helps you keep a small amount of information in your working memory for a short period of time.
c. cramming produces relatively weak neural networks in long-term memory.
d. learning requires consolidating and reconsolidating information into your long-term memory.

Answer 47

a, b, d

Question 48

To remember something, you need to forget it - just a little.

Answer 48

True

Question 49

Mixing up the topics or types of problems you practice during a study session is called _.

Answer 49

interleaving

Question 50

Which of the following learning strategies reinforces the brain’s ability to differentiate between different types of problems and the methods needed to solve them?

Answer 50

interleaving

Question 51

Which note-taking method enhances learning by forcing the brain to summarize, paraphrase, and filter information?
a. copying a friend’s notes
b. none of these
Selected: c. writing notes by hand while listening to lecture
d. typing class notes on a laptop

Answer 51

c

Question 52

Comprehending, processing and encoding new information places a heavy cognitive load on one’s working memory, especially if the information being learned is completely unfamiliar.

Answer 52

True

Question 53

Which component of memory stores information for a very brief period of time (from 0.5-3 seconds) and immediately discards 99% of the input it receives? _

Answer 53

Sensory memory