Question

The text describes a classic research study conducted by Stephen Kosslyn and colleagues (1978) that involved participants memorizing a fictitious island. The results of the study indicate that:

a) People can easily remember the names of imaginary places
b) Visual mental imagery can influence memory and recognition
c) Auditory memory is more powerful than visual memory
d) Imagination has no impact on memory

Answer 1

The correct option is b. The classic study by Stephen Kosslyn showed that visual mental imagery can influence memory and recognition, highlighting the significant role mental imagery plays in enhancing memory retention.

Step-by-step explanation:

The research study conducted by Stephen Kosslyn and colleagues in 1978 focused on understanding how visual mental imagery can influence memory and recognition. This study is a classic example in the field of cognitive psychology that sought to investigate the role of mental imagery in memory retention and recognition tasks. Participants were asked to memorize details of a fictitious island and the results demonstrated that:

• Visual mental imagery can influence memory and recognition.

From this study, it became evident that when individuals form mental images of the places or objects they are trying to remember, it can help enhance their ability to recall those items later. This visual imaging acts as a tool for bolstering memory retention, suggesting that imagination and visual mental processes can indeed impact memory.