In a study of the mechanisms underlying associative memory—or the ability to learn and remember connections between inherently unrelated things—neuros...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
In a study of the mechanisms underlying associative memory—or the ability to learn and remember connections between inherently unrelated things—neuroscientists Kei Igarashi, Jasmine Chavez, and others presented mice with memory tests. The team discovered that fan cells, a type of cell found in the medial temporal lobe of the brain, are necessary for the acquisition of new associative memories. They also found that fan cell activity requires dopamine, a chemical the brain produces in response to pleasure and rewards. Consequently, receiving a reward should likely help to ______
Which choice most logically completes the text?
decrease an individual's capacity to utilize dopamine.
increase an individual's capacity to recognize differences between unrelated things.
increase an individual's capacity to form associative memories.
decrease an individual's capacity to create fan cells.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "In a study of the mechanisms underlying associative memory—or the ability to learn and remember connections between inherently unrelated things—neuroscientists Kei Igarashi, Jasmine Chavez, and others presented mice with memory tests." |
|
| "The team discovered that fan cells, a type of cell found in the medial temporal lobe of the brain, are necessary for the acquisition of new associative memories." |
|
| "They also found that fan cell activity requires dopamine, a chemical the brain produces in response to pleasure and rewards." |
|
| "Consequently, receiving a reward should likely help to ______" |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: A study found that fan cells are essential for forming associative memories and that these cells require dopamine (which comes from rewards), leading to a conclusion about how rewards affect memory formation.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes what associative memory is, then presents two key research findings about fan cells and their relationship to both associative memory and dopamine, finally setting up a logical inference about the effect of rewards on memory formation.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The passage creates a clear logical chain: rewards produce dopamine → dopamine is needed for fan cell activity → fan cells are necessary for forming associative memories
- So if someone receives a reward, that should trigger this whole chain and help them form associative memories better
- The right answer should connect receiving rewards to an increased ability to form associative memories, since that's what the logical chain of evidence supports
decrease an individual's capacity to utilize dopamine.
✗ Incorrect
- This suggests rewards would decrease dopamine capacity
- The passage tells us rewards produce dopamine, so this goes against the evidence
increase an individual's capacity to recognize differences between unrelated things.
✗ Incorrect
- This focuses on recognizing differences between unrelated things
- The passage is about forming connections between unrelated things, not recognizing differences
increase an individual's capacity to form associative memories.
✓ Correct
- This directly follows the logical chain: rewards → dopamine → fan cell activity → associative memory formation
- Uses the exact terminology from the passage
decrease an individual's capacity to create fan cells.
✗ Incorrect
- This suggests rewards would decrease fan cell creation
- The passage doesn't discuss creating fan cells, only their activity, and goes against the positive relationship established