What is the term for the encoding of sounds, especially words?

• A. Audio Encoding
• B. Visual Encoding
• C. Semantic Encoding
• D. Echoic Memory

Answer: (A)

The correct term for the encoding of sounds, particularly words, is not audio encoding but rather echoic memory. Echoic memory refers specifically to the sensory memory for auditory stimuli, allowing individuals to temporarily retain sounds and verbal information. It plays a crucial role in our ability to process and understand spoken language.

While audio encoding might suggest a relationship to the processing of sound, it does not accurately encapsulate the specific concept of auditory retention and processing as defined in psychological terms. The other options, such as visual encoding and semantic encoding, pertain to different forms of information processing—visual encoding relates to images and visual information, while semantic encoding involves the meaning of words and concepts rather than their sounds. Thus, echoic memory is the appropriate term for the context of sound encoding.