Processing refers to mental operations that are applied to the encoded information in order to make sense of it. It involves activities such as organizing, transforming, and manipulating incoming sensory inputs.
Related terms
Shallow Processing: A type of processing where we pay little attention or effort, resulting in less elaborate memory traces.
Elaborative Rehearsal: A strategy for deep processing where we actively relate new information to existing knowledge or personal experiences.
Levels-of-processing Theory: A theory suggesting that memory recall is influenced by how deeply an item was processed during encoding.