Final answer:
Retrieval cues and tasks involve two key factors: the type of memory retrieval process (recall, recognition, or relearning) and the nature of the task (perceptual or semantic).
Step-by-step explanation:
The two factors involved with retrieval cues and tasks are the type of memory retrieval being utilized, which is categorized as either recall, recognition, or relearning, and the nature of the task, namely whether it is a perceptual or a semantic task. The process of retrieval serves to bring information out of long-term memory storage and back into conscious awareness. Recall is the ability to access information without cues, as when writing an essay from memory. Recognition requires identifying information that you've previously learned by encountering it again and using comparison.
Studies involving brain scans, such as PET scans, have shown that certain tasks activate the prefrontal cortex differently, influencing retrieval success. Tasks categorized as semantic, which involve deep processing like categorizing or associating meaning, tend to have better recall and more prefrontal cortex activation. This suggests that semantic encoding of information strengthens the retrieval cues, improving memory performance. In summary, effective retrieval depends on both the cognitive processes involved and the nature or complexity of the tasks at hand.Semantic tasks engage deeper cognitive processing and are associated with better retrieval and greater prefrontal cortex activation.