Final answer:
Encoding is the process by which information is transformed into a format that can be stored in memory. It involves organizing and connecting new information with existing information for easier storage and retrieval. Storage then creates a permanent record, and retrieval is when the stored information is recalled.
Step-by-step explanation:
Encoding is defined as the way in which information is processed for storage in memory. This process is crucial as it prepares information to be placed into memory storage systems within the brain.
Memory functions through three primary processes: encoding, storing, and retrieval. Encoding is the initial process where information is transformed into a form that can be processed by the brain's memory system. When we talk about encoding, we refer to how sensory information from our environment is received and then converted into a format that can be stored within our minds, similar to how computers process and store data.
The encoding process can be automatic or effortful and involves organizing information with other similar information and connecting new concepts to existing concepts. This can be facilitated through methods like 'chunking', which organizes information into manageable units. Once encoded, information moves on to the next stage: storage. Storage is where the brain creates a permanent record of the encoded information.
According to the Atkinson-Shiffrin model, there are three stages of memory storage: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory. Lastly, retrieval is the process of recalling stored information from memory when it is needed. These stages collectively support the complex function of memory that allows us to retain and utilize learned information over time.