What is the first stage of memory that involves focusing attention on information?

The first stage of memory that involves focusing attention on information is accurately represented by the process of attention. Attention is crucial because it acts as the gatekeeper to the memory system; it determines what information is selected for further processing. When you direct your focus toward a specific stimulus or piece of information, that information is more likely to be encoded into memory for future use.

In contrast, encoding refers to the process of transforming the attended information into a memory representation, which follows attention. Storage is the retention of encoded information over time, and retrieval is the process of accessing that stored information when it is needed. Thus, attention is fundamental as it precedes and enables the encoding of information into memory.