What are environmental stimuli or bits of information that help retrieve a memory called?

The correct answer is retrieval cues, which are specific stimuli or bits of information that facilitate the recall of memories. When an individual encounters a piece of information that relates to a stored memory, it can trigger the retrieval process, making it easier to access that memory. Retrieval cues can come in many forms, such as sensory inputs (like sights or sounds), contextual details related to where the memory was formed, or even emotional states at the time of encoding.

The concept emphasizes how memory is associated with specific contexts and triggers that can unlock stored information, thus highlighting the interconnected nature of memory and perception. This idea is key in understanding how retrieval works in cognitive psychology and affects learning and recall in real-world scenarios.

Other options refer to different aspects of cognitive processing. Spreading activation describes the network of associations that can be activated in the mind, decay refers to the fading of memories over time if they are not retrieved or rehearsed, and semantic networks represent concept associations but do not specifically pertain to memory retrieval guidance.