Encoding Is To Remembering As Storage Is To Retaining

We often think of studying, remembering, and retaining information as all being the same process. However, there is a crucial distinction between encoding, remembering, and storage. Encoding is the process of taking information and translating it into a form that can be stored in the brain. Remembering is the process of retrieving that information from the brain and placing it in conscious awareness. Storage is the process of maintaining that information for long-term retrieval and recall. In this article, we’ll explore the essential differences between encoding, remembering, and storage and how they interact to help us learn and recall information.

Encoding

Encoding is the process of assimilating and transforming information from the environment. This information is encoded and converted into a form that can be stored in memory. Encoding can involve various strategies, including associating new information with related information already stored in the brain, attaching emotional significance to new information, and repeating the new information to ourselves.

Remembering

Remembering is the process of retrieving information from the brain and placing it in conscious awareness. It depends on the ability to recognize patterns, recall facts and details, and relate new information to prior knowledge. Remembering also depends on the ability to use mnemonic devices to aid the recall of information. Remembering is often the result of encoding, as the information must first be encoded before it can be remembered.

Storage

Storage is the process of maintaining information in the brain for long-term retrieval and recall. It is the retention of the encoded information. This can involve various strategies, such as forming mental associations with related concepts, retrieving information from long-term memory, and using rehearsal and spacing to store information into long-term memory.

Conclusion

In summary, encoding is the process of taking information and translating it into a form that can be stored in the brain, remembering is the process of retrieving that information from the brain and placing it in conscious awareness, and storage is the creation of a permanent record of information. Although encoding, remembering, and storage are often thought of as the same process, there are important distinctions between them that must be recognized in order to maximize learning and memory.