Problem:
The way the brain processes information is similar to the way an office worker handles mail that comes into an office. The information enters the brain through the senses-sight, hearing, touch, smell, or taste-like mail being delivered to an office. As soon as the information comes in, the sensory register in the brain decides whether to pass the information on or throw it out, just as the office worker sorts out the important mail from the junk mail. The important mail goes onto the worker's desk, while the junk mail goes into the trash can. In the brain, the immediate memory then deals with the information that has been kept, just as the worker then deals with the mail on the desk. She may get rid of some of the letters by passing them on to other workers; the rest she will keep on her desk. In the brain, the next step is for the working memory to deal with the information that has gotten this far. The working memory may respond to the information and then be done with it, or it may put it into long-term storage for future reference. This is like the worker answering the letters