What is meant by retrieval failure?

Retrieval failure refers to the situation where an individual is unable to access or locate stored memories at the moment they are needed, despite having learned or experienced the information at some point in the past. This phenomenon can occur due to various factors such as stress, lack of cues, or interference from other memories.

In the context of memory, the process of retrieving information relies heavily on cues and context; without the right triggers or environmental context, the brain might struggle to access those stored memories. This does not imply that the memories have been permanently lost—rather, they are still intact but temporarily unreachable.

The other options do not accurately describe retrieval failure. Successfully recalling stored memories contradicts the very definition of retrieval failure. Forgetting new information quickly pertains to the rapid loss of recent memories but does not specifically address the retrieval of previously learned information. Lastly, the idea of memories disappearing over time relates more to decay theory rather than the specific inability to retrieve previously stored memories when needed.