Retrieval is the process of accessing and bringing stored information into conscious awareness. It is the third stage of memory, after encoding and storage. Retrieval can be explicit, as when recalling a fact for an exam, or implicit, as when a skill is performed automatically.

Successful retrieval depends on the strength of the memory trace and on retrieval cues—stimuli that help trigger the memory. Recall, recognition, and relearning are three measures of retrieval. Context-dependent and state-dependent memory show that retrieval is better when the environment or internal state at retrieval matches that at encoding.

Measures of retrieval

• Recall: retrieving information without cues
• Recognition: identifying previously learned items
• Relearning: measuring how much faster material is learned again
• Cues improve retrieval success