How does activity-silent working memory help with mental rotation problems?

Activity-silent working memory is a concept that refers to the maintenance of information in the brain without relying on overt neural activity, unlike traditional working memory which involves active neural firing. This approach is particularly useful in mental rotation problems, where individuals need to visualize and manipulate objects in their mind.

The correct choice highlights how activity-silent working memory strengthens connections between neurons, which is crucial for efficient problem-solving. In mental rotation tasks, individuals need to mentally manipulate forms and compare them, often leading to the need for enhanced neural connectivity and integration of perceptual information. By strengthening these neural connections, information can be maintained and accessed more effectively, allowing for better visualization and rotation of objects in the mind.

In contrast, solely relying on visual memory without any neural connections would not provide the necessary depth of processing required for such tasks, as visual memory alone does not facilitate the cognitive manipulation needed for mental rotation. The maintenance of focus on the task is important, but it does not specifically address the inherent cognitive processes involved in transforming and comparing visual information. Emphasizing verbal reasoning might aid in understanding certain cognitive tasks, but mental rotation primarily relies on spatial awareness and visual processing rather than verbal reasoning strategies.