MCAT Behavioral Sciences Question 191: Answer and Explanation

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Question: 191

3. After hearing a telephone number, one only has a few seconds to write it down before the information is lost. What aspect of Baddeley's information processing model accounts for this ability?

  • A. Phonological loop
  • B. Visuospatial sketchpad
  • C. Episodic buffer
  • D. Central executive

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

According to Alan Baddeley's information processing model, the phonological loop is the component of working memory that allows us to remember auditory information for a very brief amount of time before it is either processed or lost; therefore, this is the best explanation for why, after hearing a telephone number, we only have a few seconds to write it down before forgetting it (choice A is correct). The visuospatial sketchpad works similar to the phonological loop, but is specific for visual, not auditory, information (choice B is wrong). The episodic buffer pertains to the interaction between working memory and long-term memory; there is no indication in the question stem that there is an interaction of this sort (choice C is wrong). The central executive is the overseer of the entire system, responsible for shifting and dividing attention; while the central executive is responsible for the ability to focus on the important information—the telephone number—it is not the part of the system that explains why this information decays so quickly if it isn't written down (choice D is wrong).

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