Final answer:
The type of word processing that results in the greatest retention is semantic processing, due to deeper engagement with the meaning of words. Semantic encoding is superior in retaining verbal information as it benefits from the self-reference effect. The hippocampus is an example of a multimodal integrative area involved in memory formation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of word processing that results in the greatest retention of verbal information is semantic processing. Studies by psychologists Fergus Craik and Endel Tulving in 1975 showed that words encoded semantically were better remembered than those encoded visually or acoustically. This is because semantic encoding involves a deeper level of processing, engaging with the meaning of the words, which leads to better memory retention. The self-reference effect, which describes the improved memory for information related to oneself, also underscores the superiority of semantic processing in memory retention.
Regarding the item about the three functions of memory, the correct answer would be d. encoding, storage, and retrieval. And for the physical trace of memory, the term is a. engram. The understanding of episodic memory, as proposed by Tulving, contributes to the knowledge that this type of memory involves personal experiences and contains spatial and temporal contexts. Lastly, an example of a multimodal integrative area in the brain could be c. hippocampus, which plays a significant role in the formation of new memories and is involved in navigation and spatial orientation.