Which type of stimuli is more likely to be remembered without semantic encoding?

The likelihood of remembering stimuli without semantic encoding is significantly influenced by the distinctiveness and uniqueness of the stimuli themselves. Distinctive stimuli, such as those that have unusual shapes or are otherwise prominent, capture attention more effectively than standard or mundane items. This enhanced attention leads to better encoding and recall, even without deeper processing like semantic encoding.

When individuals encounter distinctive stimuli, the exceptional attributes create stronger memory traces within the brain. These memory traces often rely on visual or surface-level characteristics instead of meaning-based processing, enabling recall even without the benefit of semantic associations. The unusual shapes or features of the stimuli make them stand out, thus facilitating their recall through sheer distinctiveness.

In comparison, neutral words, common phrases, or ambiguous images are less likely to engage this same level of attention and encoding. Neutral words might lack any notable characteristic that makes them memorable, common phrases may blend into everyday language, and ambiguous images might require some level of semantic processing to derive meaning. Therefore, the unique nature of distinctive stimuli with unusual word shapes inherently enhances their memorability without the necessity of deeper semantic encoding.