Elaboration

As you have learned, we have a better chance at remembering ideas or events if there is an emotion tied with it. One way we can attach a special meaning or purpose is called elaboration-the process of attaching a maximum number of associations to a basic concept so that it can be remembered and retrieved easily. Elaboration is a great way to add "color" to a story or an event to give it more memory. Which would you remember to tell your sister later this afternoon?

• The cat was returned to its owner?
• A woman who lost her cat when she went to purchase a lottery ticket three days ago was reunited with Fluffy right after she found out her ticket was a winner.

Most likely the latter as this was elaborated upon and has some meaning.