Final answer:
Posner's theory proposes that memory is encoded in multiple ways. This is illustrated by the effective use of semantic processing for remembering verbal information and the importance of the hippocampus for memory formation. Reviewing material before a test reinforces memory encoding and retention.
Step-by-step explanation:
Posner's theory of multiple coding formats suggests that memory is encoded in multiple ways, not adhering to a single, unified coding format. This theory contrasts ideas that favor visual coding exclusively or argue against any coding formats within memory processes. In the context of encoding and remembering verbal information, semantic processing, which deals with the meaning of words, has been found to be particularly effective, as shown in the studies by psychologists like William Bousfield and the experiments conducted by Fergus Craik and Endel Tulving. Semantic encoding allows for deeper processing and hence, better retention and recall.
Regarding the functions of memory, the three main ones are encoding, storage, and retrieval. Encoding refers to the initial learning of information; storage is maintaining that information over time, and retrieval is the ability to access the information when needed. Damage to the hippocampus, a critical region for memory, could impair the memory system, particularly affecting the formation of new memories and possibly leading to different types of amnesia.
Finally, when discussing memory enhancement techniques, the self-reference effect becomes relevant. This effect refers to the tendency of people to better remember information that they relate to themselves. Additionally, revisiting study material again before a test, known as spaced repetition, can be beneficial because it strengthens the encoding and retention of the material in memory.