What memory process involves actively organizing and integrating new information?

The process that involves actively organizing and integrating new information is encoding. During encoding, information is transformed into a format that can be stored in the brain. This process includes not just the initial perception of information, but also the mechanisms through which individuals make sense of new data by relating it to existing knowledge, categorizing it, and making connections.

For example, when learning a new concept, a person may relate it to something they already know, which helps to facilitate deeper understanding and retention. Effective encoding can significantly influence how well the information is later retrieved, as a well-organized memory trace is easier to access.

In contrast, storage refers to maintaining encoded information over time, retrieval involves accessing and bringing stored information back to consciousness, and rehearsal pertains to the practice of reviewing information to enhance retention. Hence, while all of these processes are integral to memory, encoding specifically focuses on the initial organization and integration of new information.