Many uses have been claimed for hypnosis, from combating drug addictio

Question

Many uses have been claimed for hypnosis, from combating drug addiction to overcoming common phobias. A recent experimental study helps illuminate the supposed connection between hypnosis and increased power of recall. A number of subjects listened to a long, unfamiliar piece of instrumental music. Under subsequent hypnosis, half the subjects were asked to recall salient passages from the musical piece and half were asked to describe scenes from "the film they had just viewed,'' despite their not having just seen a film. The study found that the subjects in the second group were equally confident and detailed in their movie recollections as the subjects in the first group were in their music recollections.

Which one of the following statements is most supported by the information above?

(A) Many of the claims made on behalf of hypnosis are overstated.
(B) Hypnosis cannot significantly increase a person's power of recall.
(C) Recalling events under hypnosis inevitably results in false memories.
(D) What people recall under hypnosis depends to at least some extent on suggestion.
(E) Visual memory is enhanced more by hypnosis than is auditory memory.

Source: LSAT

KarishmaB · Accepted Answer

There is a supposed connection between hypnosis and increased power of recall.

A recent experiment throws light on it.

People listened to a  long, unfamiliar  piece of instrumental music.

Then they were hypnotised.

Half were asked to recall details of the music.

Half were asked to recall details of the film. (They were falsely suggested under hypnosis that they had just watched a film and were asked its details)

Result:
The subjects in the second group were equally confident and detailed in their movie recollections as the subjects in the first group were in their music recollections. (inspite of not watching any movie)

What can we say? That when the subjects were suggested that they had watched a movie, they believed it and gave details confidently. That the subjects were suggestible when under hypnosis.

(A) Many of the claims made on behalf of hypnosis are overstated.

Not said in the argument.

(B) Hypnosis cannot significantly increase a person's power of recall.

Is the link significant or not, the argument doesn't say. It does seem to apply that hypnosis did increase power of recall. The music was long and unfamiliar but people recounted details confidently.

(C) Recalling events under hypnosis inevitably results in false memories.

The argument doesn't say that it  inevitably  results in false memories. Whether the first group recalled correctly or not, we do not know.

(D) What people recall under hypnosis depends to at least some extent on suggestion.

Correct. What people recall depends on what is suggested to them. When they were suggested that they had watched a movie, they thought that they had and recalled details (of perhaps a movie they had watched at another time). So what they recall depends on what is suggested to them.

(E) Visual memory is enhanced more by hypnosis than is auditory memory.

The argument doesn't say that visual memory is enhanced more.

Answer (D)

pearl6 · Answer

Many uses have been claimed for hypnosis, from combating drug addiction to overcoming common phobias. A recent experimental study helps illuminate the supposed connection between hypnosis and increased power of recall. A number of subjects listened to a long, unfamiliar piece of instrumental music. Under subsequent hypnosis, half the subjects were asked to recall salient passages from the musical piece and half were asked to describe scenes from "the film they had just viewed,'' despite their not having just seen a film. The study found that the subjects in the second group were equally confident and detailed in their movie recollections as the subjects in the first group were in their music recollections.

Which one of the following statements is most supported by the information above?

(A) Many of the claims made on behalf of hypnosis are overstated.
(B) Hypnosis cannot significantly increase a person's power of recall.
(C) Recalling events under hypnosis inevitably results in false memories.
(D) What people recall under hypnosis depends to at least some extent on suggestion.
(E) Visual memory is enhanced more by hypnosis than is auditory memory

nikithaiyer5 · Answer

I dont understand the OA, the question asks most supported by information above..

But Option D talks about suggestion.. no where in the passage talks about any suggestion or prompt ..

I felt option B was right ... as the passage doesnt talk about how good the recall was.. it doesnt press on that point .. so probably it isnt significant ??

Please help..

Turkish · Answer

This is a incredibly tough question. I got the answer wrong but after spending 10 mins on this, i saw one thing that was common to both the group. Both the groups were Asked to describe scenes & to recall salient passages. Maybe this the reason why D is correct but then again I am just guessing here.

drengdal · Answer

daagh  
Sir, can you please explain why the answer is D? what i could infer was that there is no 'suggestion' here in the above text.

daagh · Answer

dren

The suggestion in the musical episode was the play itself which the audience recalled when some query was asked. The implication is the film, which the subjects re-visualized when the subjects were asked some questions. The suggestion in the film case came even without showing them the film.

HarshBazooka · Answer

I could get the answer by POE... All choices apart from D could be eliminated.

A) which are these many claims. Passage mainly talks about 'an' experiment
B) there is no mention of 'significant' increase. Also the same can't be said so strongly. Choice B is a very strongly worded choice
C) again, very strongly worded. Too much of generalization
E) not relevant.

Sent from my Redmi Note 4 using  GMAT Club Forum mobile app

RohitSaluja · Answer

VeritasKarishma   GMATNinja  can you please help explain why D is correct

AnirudhaS · Answer

Not really understood what D is suggesting. Experts please help.

svasan05 · Answer

Hi Aniridha

Let me try to address your query. Option (D) states: What people recall under hypnosis depends to at least some extent on  suggestion .

In other words, when a person is under hypnosis and is asked to recall memories, what they recall depends to some extent (at least) on any  suggestions  that are made by the person asking the question or anyone else.

This is substantiated in the passage in the portion where the persons under hypnosis are asked about the movie they had just seen. This question makes sense to the half who did indeed watch the movie. But to the other half, this question clearly  suggests  that they did indeed just watch a movie, despite the fact that they had not done so. This group then goes on to explain the movie that they now  think  they just saw in equal detail as the group that did indeed watch the movie.

Hope this answers your question.

CEdward · Answer

Here is my take.

Many uses have been claimed for hypnosis, from combating drug addiction to overcoming common phobias. A recent experimental study helps illuminate the supposed connection between hypnosis and increased power of recall. A number of subjects listened to a long, unfamiliar piece of instrumental music. Under subsequent hypnosis, half the subjects were asked to recall salient passages from the musical piece and half were asked to describe scenes from "the film they had just viewed,'' despite their not having just seen a film. The study found that the subjects in the second group were equally confident and detailed in their movie recollections as the subjects in the first group were in their music recollections.

Which one of the following statements is most supported by the information above?

(A) Many of the claims made on behalf of hypnosis are  overstated . X
This goes in the wrong direction. The author of the passage seems to have a favourable attitude towards hypnosis, citing a favourable study.
(B) Hypnosis  cannot significantly increase  a person's power of recall. X
Again, the passage goes in the opposite direction from this choice...the passage suggests that at the very least hynposis improves recall abilities so while it's possible that hypnosis does not SIGNIFICANTLY increase recall, this choice is not consistent with the passage.
(C) Recalling events under hypnosis inevitably results in  false memories.  X
Again, opposite direction!
(D) What people recall under hypnosis depends to at least some extent on suggestion. CORRECT. The "suggestion" here is analogous to a prompt, which in this case is the musical piece that the study subjects were listening to.
(E) Visual memory is  enhanced more  by hypnosis than is auditory memory. X
Too strong...we know that the subjects in both groups were EQUALLY confident regarding musical recollections ...

unraveled · Answer

Many uses have been claimed for hypnosis, from combating drug addiction to overcoming common phobias. A recent experimental study helps illuminate the supposed connection between hypnosis and increased power of recall. A number of subjects listened to a long, unfamiliar piece of instrumental music. Under subsequent hypnosis, half the subjects were asked to recall salient passages from the musical piece and half were asked to describe scenes from "the film they had just viewed,'' despite their not having just seen a film. The study found that the subjects in the second group were equally confident and detailed in their movie recollections as the subjects in the first group were in their music recollections.

Which one of the following statements is most supported by the information above?

(A) Many of the  claims  made on behalf of hypnosis are  overstated .
(B) Hypnosis  cannot significantly increase  a person's power of recall.
(C) Recalling events under hypnosis inevitably  results in false memories .
(D) What people recall under hypnosis depends to at least some extent on suggestion.
(E) Visual memory is  enhanced more  by hypnosis  than is auditory memory .

A long passage that takes hell of a time but otherwise straight and simple.
Only D makes sense. Other go against study results.

Answer D.

VerbalBot · Answer

Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.

Many uses have been claimed for hypnosis, from combating drug addictio

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

Many uses have been claimed for hypnosis, from combating drug addictio

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards