Final answer:
Grayson was relying on episodic memory to recount the events of her school dance. This type of memory allows for the recollection of personally experienced events. Memory can degrade over time, an effect known as transience.
Step-by-step explanation:
Grayson told her mother everything that happened at her school dance last night. Grayson was relying on episodic memory, which is a type of long-term memory that involves the recollection of specific events, situations, and experiences. Episodic memory allows individuals to remember personal experiences that occurred at a particular time and place.
When we recount experiences like Grayson did with her school dance, we engage our episodic memory to recall the detailed sequence of events, the emotions felt, and the people involved. Transience is the tendency for memories to fade over time, which might explain why, in another example provided, Nathan's mother struggled to remember the plot of 'To Kill a Mockingbird' she read many years ago. Another aspect of memory discussed is relearning, where previously learned information is memorized more quickly upon a subsequent encounter, as in the case of Whitney picking up Spanish after a long time without use.
Cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Loftus has contributed significantly to our understanding of memory, especially with regard to false memories and the misinformation effect.