What term describes the gradual weakening of memory pathways when they are not used?

The term that describes the gradual weakening of memory pathways when they are not used is transience. This phenomenon reflects the natural decay of memories over time, particularly when those memories are not actively recalled or rehearsed. Essentially, if memories are not engaged and revisited, the neural connections that encode those memories can weaken, making it more difficult to retrieve them later on.

Transience highlights the importance of practice and reinforcement in memory retention. It suggests that memories may fade not because they were never encoded well in the first place, but rather because they lack the stimulation and recall needed to keep them strong. This can occur in various situations, such as forgetting names, facts, or experiences that have not been revisited since they were first learned.

Other options like blocking, suggestibility, and misattribution refer to different memory phenomena that are not specifically about the weakening of memory pathways over time. Blocking involves an inability to retrieve information; suggestibility involves the influence of external cues on memory recall; and misattribution refers to errors in recalling the source of a memory. These concepts address different aspects of memory processes, while transience specifically focuses on the decline of memory due to lack of use.