Which theory centers on core brain functions, including sensory input, working memory, and long-term memory?

• A. Tabula rasa
• B. Information processing theory
• C. Cognitive style
• D. Growth mindset

Answer: (B)

Information processing theory views the mind like a computer, with stages that handle sensory input, working memory, and long-term memory. When information hits our senses, it first enters sensory memory for a brief moment. Attention then selects what’s important and encodes it into working memory, where we actively hold and manipulate it. With rehearsal and deeper encoding, this information moves into long-term memory for later retrieval. This approach also explains how processing capacity, attention, and speed affect learning, and why strategies such as chunking, rehearsal, and elaborative encoding improve memory and transfer.

Other ideas describe different aspects of learning rather than the brain’s memory systems. Tabula rasa treats the mind as a blank slate shaped entirely by experience, not by internal memory processes. Cognitive style focuses on individual preferences in processing rather than the actual mechanics of memory. Growth mindset is about beliefs regarding whether abilities can improve with effort, not the brain’s memory architecture.