Processing in the visual system is believed to be more holistic and based on continuous organizational units termed imagens . A verbal representation, on the other hand, requires a sequential description of each individual element. Thus, in this type of representation, the level of detail is directly proportional to the length of the description. Representational processing refers to the activation of a particular type of memory code by the corresponding type of stimulus. Referential processing refers to the cross-activation of the two types of memory codes.
Associative processing refers to activation of additional information within either system.
Furthermore, pictures are more likely to activate both coding systems upon processing than words. However, not all theorists agree with the basic principles and assumptions of Dual Coding Theory. It is unclear, however, whether this reduction also occurs without elaborative coding of either pictures or words. Propositional theorists offer an alternate view of memory storage that argues against a dual coding process. This implies a unitary view which assumes that visual and verbal information is stored the same way.