Final answer:
Adults recall words by their visual representation through visual encoding once the word is stored in the visual word form area in the brain. Semantic encoding is the most effective for remembering verbal information as it involves deeper processing and is enhanced by the self-reference effect. Brain scans have illustrated that the prefrontal cortex is heavily involved in semantic processing tasks.
Step-by-step explanation:
Adults often recall words by their appearance once they are stored in the brain's visual word form area. This phenomenon suggests that when we learn a word and its visual representation, we are engaging in visual encoding, which allows us to remember how the word looks in print rather than by its sounds. Moreover, words with strong mental imagery associated with them, such as car, dog, and book, are usually recalled more easily than abstract words because these high-imagery words are encoded both visually and semantically, creating stronger memories.
When it comes to encoding verbal information, semantic encoding is recognized as the most effective technique. This is because it entails a deeper level of processing than visual or acoustic encoding. For instance, in one study, participants performed better on memory tasks when they engaged in semantic processing—like categorizing a noun as living or non-living—compared to perceptual tasks like identifying specific letters. Memory formation also has a strong tie to personal relevance due to the self-reference effect, where individuals have better memory for information that relates to themselves.
Other research using brain scans, such as PET scans, has shown that the prefrontal cortex plays an essential role in how we process and retain information. The left inferior prefrontal cortex, in particular, shows more activation during tasks that involve semantic processing. Overall, it shows that the way verbal information is processed can significantly impact how well it is remembered later on.