Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
New memories refer to recently acquired information or experiences that are stored in our brains for later retrieval. These memories can be short-term (temporary) or long-term (more permanent).
Encoding refers to how incoming information is processed by our brains before being stored as a memory. It involves transforming information into a format suitable for storage.
Retrieval is the process of accessing stored memories from our brain. It involves bringing stored information back into consciousness for use in the present moment.