Psychology MCAT Practice Exam

How does elaboration rehearsal differ from maintenance rehearsal?

1. It focuses on repeating information exactly as it was learned

2. It involves making connections to existing knowledge to enhance memory

3. It organizes information into manageable chunks

4. It primarily encodes information to short-term memory

The correct answer is: It involves making connections to existing knowledge to enhance memory

Elaboration rehearsal is characterized by its focus on making meaningful connections with existing knowledge, which enhances memory retention. This method involves processing information at a deeper level by relating it to concepts that the individual is already familiar with, thereby facilitating better understanding and recall. In contrast, maintenance rehearsal involves simply repeating the information over and over without any additional context or deeper processing. While maintenance rehearsal can keep information in short-term memory temporarily, it does not contribute significantly to transferring that information into long-term memory the way elaboration rehearsal does. By creating associations and integrating new information with what is already known, elaboration rehearsal significantly enriches the memory process, making it easier to retrieve that information later. This approach is critical for effective learning and applying knowledge in various contexts.