Final answer:
State-dependent memory means a person has better recall of material that is learned in a similar physiological state or mood. This concept is based on the idea that memories are more easily accessed when we are in the same state as when those memories were formed. The correct option is c.
Step-by-step explanation:
State-dependent memory implies that a person is more likely to recall information that was learned in a similar physiological state or mood. The phenomenon suggests that it's easier to access certain memories when you are in the same state of mind as when the memories were formed.
It's important to mention that state-dependent learning can refer both to internal states, such as mood and sobriety, as well as to external contexts like physical environment. However, when specifically referring to physiological states or moods, the correct answer to the student's question is: c. in a similar physiological state or mood.
Remember, our brains often link knowledge to the context in which it was acquired. Strong emotions or certain physiological conditions during the learning process can create a more robust connection, leading to what is known as the self-reference effect.
This is where information that is personally meaningful, or that which is related to oneself, tends to be remembered more effectively.
Therefore, state-dependent memory serves as a retrieval cue that can help in recalling learned information when one reinstate the context or state associated with the memory. The correct option is c.