Which process is critical for moving information from working memory to long-term memory?

The process that is vital for transferring information from working memory to long-term memory is encoding. Encoding refers to how information is initially transformed and organized in a way that allows it to be stored effectively in long-term memory for future retrieval. This process involves various techniques, such as elaboration, semantic processing, and organization, which enhance memory retention and retrieval later on.

While rehearsal, which is the repetition of information in working memory, can help maintain information temporarily, it does not necessarily guarantee that the information will be encoded into long-term memory unless it is paired with deeper processing techniques. Storage is more about maintaining the information once it has been encoded, and recalling pertains to retrieving the information from memory. Hence, encoding is specifically the process that facilitates the pathway from working memory to long-term memory, making it the correct choice for this question.