Three Stage Memory Model

The three stage memory model is the most basic way to describe how our memory works. It is a three stage process that explains how we acquire, process, store, and recall memories.

The first stage is called encoding and it is how we lay down the foundation to remember information. It is the process of perceiving and processing information so that it becomes a memory. We use visual and auditory stimuli in order to encode information. Attention is important in this stage because it is essential for encoding information that will become a memory.

The second stage is storage which is the storing of encoded information over time. Storage is essentially retaining information so that it can be used later. We have both long term and working (or 'short term') memory that we use for storage of memories.

The final stage is retrieval and that is when we access the encoded memory in order to recall the information.