_____ theory suggests that memory is like any other biological process that deteriorates over time.

The theory that suggests memory is like any other biological process that deteriorates over time is the Decay Theory of memory. This theory posits that when we learn something new, a physical change occurs in our brain (known as an engram, or memory trace), and this trace represents the stored knowledge. However, over time, these traces begin to fade and diminish due to the passing of time and a lack of use or rehearsal—much like how a muscle might atrophy if not exercised. This natural loss of memory strength is known as forgetting.

Decay theory primarily applies to sensory and short-term memory. In the absence of reinforcement or connections to other memories, the brain's biological changes supposedly begin to decay, leading to fading or diminishing memories. However, long-term memories are believed to be less susceptible to decay if they are consolidated properly.