What differentiates the standard model from the multiple trace model of consolidation?

The correct answer highlights a key aspect of memory consolidation as understood in cognitive psychology. The standard model of memory consolidation posits that the hippocampus plays a critical role during the initial stages of memory formation, facilitating the encoding of new information and its transition to long-term storage. Over time, as memories become more stable or consolidated, the reliance on the hippocampus diminishes.

In contrast, the multiple trace model argues that the hippocampus continues to be involved in the retrieval of memories, especially episodic memories, even after they have been consolidated. This perspective suggests that certain types of memories may never fully lose their dependence on the hippocampus.

The nuance in the standard model, as identified in the chosen answer, is that the hippocampus's involvement is primarily during the early phases of memory formation, after which the memories are thought to become reliant on neocortical regions. This understanding highlights the dynamic nature of memory systems and how different brain regions contribute to memory function over time.

Other options either misrepresent the roles of the hippocampus or do not accurately capture the focused differences between the two models concerning memory consolidation and retrieval processes.