Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated August 2025
Definition
The term "stored" refers to the retention or preservation of encoded information in memory systems for future retrieval. When information is stored, it is held in various parts of our brain until we need to recall it.
STM holds small amounts of information for limited periods before either being forgotten or transferred into long-term memory. It's like holding a small number of items in your hands for immediate use.
LTM is the relatively permanent storage of information that can be recalled when needed. Think of it as a vast library where knowledge and experiences are stored for long-term access.