Which of the following best describes the duration of long-term memory?

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Long-term memory is meant to hold information for extended periods, far beyond the brief holds of working memory. With proper encoding and retrieval cues, information can persist for years and often for decades. That longevity is what distinguishes it from shorter-term storage. The other timeframes—seconds and minutes, and even hours—describe short-term or working memory, which is temporary and fades unless actively maintained. Therefore, decades best describes the duration of long-term memory. For example, you can recall a childhood event or a long-known phone number many years later, illustrating this long-lasting storage.