Final answer:
As associations in long-term memory get stronger, they are stored more deeply and efficiently, aiding in easier retrieval.
Step-by-step explanation:
During long-term memory processing, as associations between pieces of information get stronger, they are stored more deeply and efficiently, rather than more superficially or in a separate brain region. These associations are also not necessarily inaccessible to conscious retrieval. The process of encoding involves deepening the connections by methods such as elaborative rehearsal and use of mnemonic devices. Memories in long-term memory are believed to be stored in the areas of the brain responsible for the sensory perception that was involved in the memory. With stronger associations, memory retrieval is facilitated through processes like spreading activation, where activating one part of a memory network makes it easier to access associated memories.