When given a list of grocery items to remember, Marissa can only recall the last several items on the list. Marissa's memory lapse is a good illustration of

• A. the primacy effect.
• B. anterograde amnesia.
• C. the recency effect.
• D. retrograde amnesia.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of the recency effect: It refers to the tendency to remember the most recently presented information best. This is because the last items are still in short-term memory.
2. Consider the scenario: Marissa is given a list of grocery items to remember.
3. Identify the key detail: Marissa can only recall the last several items on the list.
4. Relate this detail to the recency effect: Since Marissa remembers the last items, it aligns with the recency effect, where recent information is more easily recalled.
5. Conclude that Marissa's memory lapse is an illustration of the recency effect, as it involves recalling the last items from a list.