{{Short description|A psychological model of memory}}
The '''Levels levels-of Processing-processing model''', created by [[Fergus I. M. Craik]] and Robert S. Lockhart in 1972, describes [[memory]] [[recollection|recall]] of [[Stimulus (physiology)|stimuli]] as a function of the depth of mental processing. More analysis produce more elaborate and stronger memory than lower levels of processing. Depth of processing falls on a shallow to deep continuum.{{cn|date=February 2024}} Shallow processing (e.g., processing based on [[phonemic]] and [[Orthography|orthographic]] components) leads to a fragile memory trace that is susceptible to rapid decay. Conversely, deep processing (e.g., [[semantic processing]]) results in a more durable memory trace.<ref>Craik, F. I. M., & Lockhart, R. S. (1972). Levels of processing: A framework for memory research. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 11(6), 671.</ref> There are three levels of processing in this model. Structural processing, or visual, is when we remember only the physical quality of the word (e.g. how the word is spelled and how letters look). Phonemic processing includes remembering the word by the way it sounds (e.g. the word tall rhymes with fall). Lastly, we have semantic processing in which we encode the meaning of the word with another word that is similar or has similar meaning. Once the word is perceived, the brain allows for a deeper processing.
This theory contradicts the multi-store [[Atkinson-Shiffrin memory model]] which represents memory strength as being continuously variable, the assumption being that rehearsal always improves long-term memory. They argued that rehearsal that consists simply of repeating previous analyses (maintenance rehearsal) doesn't enhance long-term memory.<ref>Eysenck, M. (2006). Learning and Long-term memory. In Fundamentals of cognition (Second ed.). Hove, England: Psychology Press</ref>
