In a room filled with people, where several conversations are going on, you are able to hear your name being spoken. This is

• A. eidetic imagery.
• B. chunking.
• C. the 'cocktail-party effect.'
• D. maintenance rehearsal.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the phenomenon being described: the ability to focus on a specific stimulus while filtering out a range of other stimuli, such as hearing your name in a noisy room.
2. Understand that this phenomenon is related to selective attention, which is the process of focusing on a particular object in the environment for a certain period of time.
3. Recognize that the 'cocktail-party effect' is the term used to describe this ability to detect a personally relevant stimulus, like your name, amidst background noise.
4. Differentiate this from other concepts mentioned: 'eidetic imagery' refers to the ability to recall images with high precision, 'chunking' is a memory strategy to group information, and 'maintenance rehearsal' is a technique to keep information in short-term memory.
5. Conclude that the correct answer is the 'cocktail-party effect,' as it specifically describes the ability to focus on a single conversation or stimulus in a noisy environment.