In cognitive psychology, what does the term 'memory retrieval' refer to?

Memory retrieval refers specifically to the process of recalling stored information from memory. This involves accessing and bringing to consciousness the knowledge that has previously been encoded and stored in the brain. When we talk about memory retrieval, we are focusing on how individuals can locate and use the information they have learned or experienced in the past, whether it's a fact, an event, or a learned skill.

The retrieval process can be influenced by various factors such as cues, context, and the individual's mental state. Successful retrieval may involve recognition (identifying information when presented with it) or recall (retrieving information without specific cues). Understanding how retrieval works is crucial in cognitive psychology as it plays a significant role in learning, decision-making, and the formation of memories.

In contrast, the other choices describe different aspects of memory. Storing new information relates to encoding, the ability to absorb information pertains to attention and initial learning processes, and the process of forgetting information is concerned with the decay or failure of memory retrieval rather than the act itself. Thus, the focus on recalling stored information is what makes the selection correct in this context.