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Difficulty: MediumExclusion Questions (EXCEPT/LEAST/NOT)

For decades, the Standard Consolidation Theory (SCT) has dominated neurobiological models of memory. SCT posits that the hippocampus is only temporarily necessary for the retrieval of declarative memories—both episodic (personal experiences) and semantic (general facts). According to SCT, as memories mature, they are gradually consolidated into the neocortex, eventually becoming entirely independent of the hippocampus.

However, the Multiple Trace Theory (MTT) challenges this unified model. Proponents of MTT argue that while semantic memories do indeed become independent of the hippocampus over time, episodic memories rely on the hippocampus for as long as they exist. According to MTT, every time an episodic memory is retrieved, the hippocampus creates a new memory trace, expanding the memory's representation across neural networks. Consequently, older memories are more resilient to brain damage not because they have migrated to the neocortex, but because they possess a greater number of hippocampal traces. MTT also asserts that the severity of retrograde amnesia for autobiographical events is strictly proportional to the extent of hippocampal damage, a correlation that SCT struggles to fully explain.

According to the passage, proponents of the Multiple Trace Theory assert all of the following EXCEPT:

  1. A
    Every instance of recalling a personal experience generates a new memory trace in the hippocampus.
  2. B
    General factual knowledge eventually ceases to depend on the hippocampus for retrieval.
  3. C
    The hippocampus is permanently required for the recollection of autobiographical events.
  4. The resilience of older episodic memories is due to their gradual relocation to the neocortex.Answer
  5. E
    The severity of retrograde amnesia for episodic events corresponds directly to the amount of damage sustained by the hippocampus.

Answer

The correct answer is the statement that the resilience of older episodic memories is due to their gradual relocation to the neocortex.
The correct answer is the statement that older episodic memories are resilient due to their relocation to the neocortex. The passage explicitly states that according to MTT, older memories are resilient 'not because they have migrated to the neocortex, but because they possess a greater number of hippocampal traces.' The idea of memories migrating to the neocortex is a tenet of the Standard Consolidation Theory (SCT), not MTT.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the question stem to determine the task.
The question asks to identify which of the five statements is NOT asserted by proponents of the Multiple Trace Theory (MTT).
The capitalized word 'EXCEPT' indicates that four options will represent assertions made by MTT in the passage, and one will be an unsupported or contradicted claim.
2
Scan the passage for the specific claims attributed to MTT.
MTT claims that semantic memories become independent of the hippocampus, episodic memories rely on it permanently, retrieval creates new memory traces, and retrograde amnesia severity is proportional to hippocampal damage.
Isolating MTT's specific assertions prevents confusion with the competing Standard Consolidation Theory (SCT) described in the first paragraph.
3
Evaluate the given options against MTT's claims to find the exception.
The statement attributing the resilience of older episodic memories to their relocation to the neocortex directly contradicts MTT, which argues they are resilient because they possess more hippocampal traces.
Identifying the direct contradiction reveals the correct answer for an exclusion question.

Key Concept

Exclusion Questions (EXCEPT/LEAST/NOT)
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Exclusion Questions (EXCEPT/LEAST/NOT)

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