The standard memory model describes the process of forming a memory through three stages: 1. Sensory memory encodes events through the senses for 1-2 seconds before the information either fades or moves to short-term memory through paying attention. 2. Short-term memory holds 5-9 items for about 30 seconds before they either fade or move to long-term memory. The total time hypothesis suggests that thinking about an item over multiple sessions increases the chances it will move to long-term memory. 3. Long-term memory seemingly has unlimited capacity and can store memories forever once encoded, though retrieval is needed to determine if information was successfully consolidated into long-term memory.