Encoding

The initial step in memory formation is encoding, which entails capturing raw information in a manner that it can later be recalled. The three components in the formation of memory are encoding, storage, and retrieval. Memories can be encoded in three different forms: visual, which entails the processing of images; acoustic, which entails the processing of sounds; and semantic, which entails processing based on meaning. The main factors that determine the quality of encoding are the presence of attention, repetition of information, and the emotional aspects of the information in question. For example, encoding a phone number in short-term memory by repeating it consecutively before calling is a common illustration of acoustic encoding.