“For starters, memory involves three phases: encoding, storage, and recall. First, let’s talk about encoding. For example, just now, you were probably noticing some things about me, including what I’m wearing, but not every detail of that, right? The term ‘encoding’ refers to how different kinds of input are processed by the brain and converted into a neural code, which can then be stored. But only some of what’s experienced—basically what gets your attention and is significant to you in that moment—gets encoded into your short-term memory, and your short-term memory only lasts about thirty
...more
