That sentence is describing “elaborative rehearsal” (also called elaborative encoding or extensive processing) in memory psychology.

Key idea in simple terms

  • When processing is extensive , a person goes beyond rote repetition and elaborates on the information by making it meaningful, adding details, and linking it to what they already know.
  • This kind of elaborative processing leads to stronger, more distinctive memory traces and improves long‑term recall compared with simple repetition.

What “extensive” / elaborative processing looks like

  • Connecting new ideas to prior knowledge (e.g., linking a concept in class to a personal experience).
  • Creating examples, analogies, or stories about the material.
  • Visualizing information with mental images or concept maps.
  • Analyzing and explaining the idea in your own words instead of just rereading.

Why it matters for studying

  • Elaborative rehearsal (extensive processing) is a deep-processing strategy in the levels‑of‑processing framework, and it reliably boosts long‑term memory more than shallow strategies such as mere repetition or highlighting.
  • Using elaboration, distinctiveness, and personal connections while studying tends to produce better exam performance and longer-lasting learning.

Answer for the fill‑in style question:

When processing isextensive , the person has attempted to make the to‑be‑remembered information meaningful and has engaged in detailed processing.
This describes elaborative rehearsal / elaborative encoding (deep processing).