Michael Is in a Serious Motorcycle Accident and Loses Consciousness

Multiple Choice

Michael is in a serious motorcycle accident and loses consciousness for several hours. When he wakes up in the hospital emergency room, he doesn't remember being in the accident. In fact, he doesn't even remember the events that led up to the accident. Which one of the following alternatives is the most likely explanation for Michael's memory loss?

A) Visual encoding is typically a slow, effortful process.
B) Procedural knowledge is acquired more slowly than declarative knowledge.
C) Loud noises (e.g., screeching brakes) can essentially "erase" new information.
D) New information often needs time to consolidate in memory.