Final answer:
The key to the levels-of-processing model of memory is effort, with semantic processing being the deepest and most effective for memory retention. Effortful processing is required for encoding complex information, while automatic processing handles simple, day-to-day details effortlessly. Flashbulb memories are vivid recollections of significant events.
Step-by-step explanation:
The key to the levels-of-processing model of memory is effort. This model suggests that the depth of processing affects how well we remember information. The three levels of processing are visual, acoustic, and semantic, with semantic processing involving the deepest level of analysis by focusing on the meaning of words, and it is likely to lead to better memory retention. An example of effortful processing includes studying for a test, where significant effort is needed to encode the material into long-term memory. In contrast, automatic processing involves encoding information effortlessly and without conscious awareness, such as what you might remember about lunch or the last time you studied. Finally, an exceptionally clear recollection of an important event is known as a flashbulb memory, which differs from an engram, which is a physical trace of memory.