How Does Consolidation theory of long-term memory Work?

Consolidation theory says that long-term memory is like a toy you keep playing with until it becomes your favorite.

Imagine you have a building block you love to stack every day. At first, it's just something fun to do, you might not even remember how many blocks you used or what shape they made. But the more you play with that same building block each day, the more familiar it feels. Eventually, it becomes so natural that you can build the whole tower in your sleep.

Consolidation is like that daily playtime, it’s the process of turning something new into something you know well and remember for a long time.

When you learn something new, like your multiplication tables or how to ride a bike, your brain starts with short-term memory, which is like trying out a new toy for the first few times. But if you keep using it, practicing, repeating, thinking about it, your brain moves that information into long-term memory.

It’s like learning a song by heart: at first, you might stumble over the words, but after singing it many times, you can sing it without even thinking about it. That's consolidation in action!