Final answer:
The brain retrieves memories through Selective retrieval (C), a process that is part of the three basic memory functions: encoding, storing, and retrieving. Selective retrieval is influenced by recognition, cues, and the personal relevance of information.
Step-by-step explanation:
When recalling a memory, our brains engage in the process of retrieval, which is the act of getting information out of long-term memory storage and back into conscious awareness. This process is characterized by three basic functions of memory: encoding, storing, and retrieving information. Out of the given options [A] Sequential retrieval, [B] Parallel retrieval, [C] Selective retrieval, and [D] Random retrieval, the type of retrieval that best describes this process is C: Selective retrieval. Retrieval can be influenced by several factors, such as the method by which the information was encoded and the personal relevance of the information, known as the self-reference effect. Retrieval is not simply a sequential process; instead, it can be highly selective, depending on various cues and context. For example, at a high school reunion, you may not recall all of your classmates' names, but you might recognize them from their yearbook photos, showing recognition instead of recall. Strategies like rehearsal and the meaningful encoding of information (semantic encoding) can enhance the memory retrieval process, making it more efficient.