According to Pavio's research, how does mental imagery enhance memory?

Mental imagery enhances memory significantly by using concrete nouns to create vivid mental pictures. According to Pavio's dual-coding theory, information is more easily remembered when it can be represented both verbally and visually, which is particularly effective for concrete nouns. When individuals visualize the meanings of these nouns, they form strong, lasting connections in their memory due to the dual pathways of encoding that imagery provides.

This approach takes advantage of the mind's ability to store and recall visual information more effectively than abstract concepts. When words can be associated with tangible images, the process of recalling those words becomes easier. For example, picturing an apple can bring the word "apple" to mind more readily than thinking of more abstract terms without a visual counterpart.

The other approaches mentioned do not focus on this dual representation of imagery and language in the same effective way that pairing concrete nouns does, which is why they do not enhance memory as powerfully.