Psychology MCAT Practice Exam

What is the primary purpose of maintenance rehearsal in memory processes?

1. To connect new information to existing knowledge

2. To organize items into chunks for easier recall

3. To repeat information, encoding it to short-term memory

4. To analyze the context of learned material

The correct answer is: To repeat information, encoding it to short-term memory

The primary purpose of maintenance rehearsal is to repeat information, thereby encoding it into short-term memory. This process involves continuously verbalizing or thinking about the information to keep it active in our memory for a short period. By rehearsing the information, it helps to prevent the items from being lost through decay. The more frequently the information is rehearsed, the greater the likelihood that it will persist in short-term memory, at least temporarily, allowing for recall or further processing. This form of rehearsal typically does not lead to deep processing or long-term storage unless combined with other strategies like elaborative rehearsal, which connects new information to existing knowledge or organizes it into meaningful chunks. While those strategies are effective for promoting long-term memory, the essence of maintenance rehearsal focuses strictly on the repetition of information for temporary storage.