Final answer:
You are accessing your mental representational network to remember the name of your new coworker, which is part of a larger semantic network that allows for easier access to related concepts through spreading activation.
Step-by-step explanation:
When trying to remember the name of a new coworker by recalling the location you were introduced, their facial features, and that her name reminded you of a city, you are accessing your mental representational network. This conceptual framework is part of the broader concept of a semantic network where memories and concepts are organized and interlinked within our brains. The process involved while you are recalling the coworker’s name, such as being reminded of a city when trying to think of her name, is indicative of the spreading activation within this network that makes associated information more accessible.
Memory organization is commonly understood through the structure of semantic networks; concepts and experiences are arranged hierarchically, with related concepts linked to each other. When you try to remember a specific item, such as a coworker's name, the activation of related concepts can aid in memory retrieval, as you have multiple paths to reach the stored information.