How does the number of syllables in a word affect memory span?

The correct choice highlights a phenomenon known as the word length effect in cognitive psychology. This principle suggests that the length of a word, particularly in terms of the number of syllables, can influence how effectively it can be remembered and recalled. Longer words generally take more time to rehearse and articulate, which can reduce the total number of items that can be actively held in short-term (or working) memory. As a result, participants tend to remember shorter words (which typically have fewer syllables) better than longer words with many syllables.

This effect is supported by various studies in cognitive psychology, indicating that when participants are asked to recall lists of words, they often perform better with lists composed of shorter words compared to those made up of longer words. The increased cognitive load associated with longer words makes it more challenging to maintain multiple items in memory simultaneously. Therefore, the assertion that there is a shorter memory span for words with many syllables reflects this established cognitive principle.