Answer:
State-dependent memory is the concept that information memorized when in a certain state of mind (can involve emotion, how you feel physically, being under the influence, etc.) is easier to recall in that same state of mind later on. In Shamar's case, he is more likely to be able to retrieve the facts and information he studied if he is in the same state of mind during the test as he was while studying.
Mnemonics, or mnemonic devices, are the use of short words or phrases that represent longer strings of information. This technique is useful in recalling information since association is one of the best ways for the brain to be able to memorize more complex information and encode it into long-term memory. If Shamar created any mnemonics for the facts he needs to recall about American politics and legal cases, he should utilize them during the test to score higher. For example, he could have created a phrase in which the first letter of each word stands for a legal case.
Selective attention is the brain's ability to focus on/react to certain stimuli while others occur simultaneously. Since it allows the brain to essentially filter out unnecessary stimuli and divert its attention to the most important task at hand, it is a very useful for Shamar during his test. He can utilize selective attention to only focus on his test and filter out noises or visual disturbances that might be distracting and prevent him from understanding the questions and recalling information.
Prospective memory involves recalling a planned action or intention that you had in the past. Since Shamar will need to write about his goals and plans in his essay that he had throughout his educational career, it will be essential for him to utilize his prospective memory to recall what his goals and plans were throughout his childhood and teenage years.
The recency effect is the tendency of the brain to store the last items in a list of sequential information and the increased ability to recall these items over the ones in the middle. In Shamar's case, the recency effect will cause him to remember the more recent events of his educational career more clearly and quickly, while he might have to spend more time thinking about his pursuits earlier in his life.
The hippocampus is the part of the brain that is involved in processing and integrating memories. Since this structure is not extremely important in recalling information (since it is focused on forming new memories), it will not be too involved in Shamar's efforts other than perhaps during the writing process and while he is carrying out the tasks needed for submission, as it is essential for the working memory, or short-term memory.
