The graph shows how the brain processes information to form long-term memory from sensory input.
There are four main stages involved in remembering information: sensory input, short-term memory, encoding, and long-term memory. First, sensory information such as sounds, touch, smells, or images enters the brain. At this stage, the information can either be forgotten or passed into short-term memory.
If we pay attention to the information in short-term memory and repeat it through rehearsal, it becomes easier to remember. This process helps the brain encode the information. Encoding can be compared to sorting books on shelves in a library, where each piece of information is organized properly. After encoding, the information is stored in long-term memory.
As a result, the process by which the brain forms long-term memory requires both time and attention. All of these stages occur in the brain every day as we learn and remember new information.