What is the memory phenomenon called when recently learned information is recalled more effectively than information learned earlier?

The memory phenomenon in question, where recently learned information is recalled more effectively than information learned earlier, is known as the recency effect. This effect is a well-documented aspect of memory retrieval, particularly in the context of serial position effects, which describe how the position of an item within a sequence influences its likelihood of being remembered.

The recency effect suggests that information presented at the end of a list is often remembered better than information presented in the middle or at the beginning. This occurs because the most recent items are still active in short-term memory, making them easier to access when retrieval is needed.

In contrast, the primacy effect, which refers to the enhanced recall of items presented at the beginning of a sequence, works because these items have more opportunity to be encoded into long-term memory. Sequential recall and the learning curve refer to different aspects of cognitive processing and memory but are not specifically concerned with the differential recall patterns of recent versus earlier information.