What term refers to the hierarchical organization of stored items in long-term memory?

The term that refers to the hierarchical organization of stored items in long-term memory is semantic networks. Semantic networks illustrate how concepts are linked and organized in the brain, reflecting relationships between ideas. In these networks, related pieces of information are stored in such a way that facilitates retrieval based on their connections to one another. For example, if a person thinks of the word "dog," they may also recall related concepts such as "animal," "pet," or "bark," all of which can be interconnected in a network structure within long-term memory.

Other options represent different aspects of memory. Sensory memory pertains to the initial, brief storage of sensory information, while short-term memory deals with information that is actively maintained and manipulated for a short duration. Declarative memory is a type of long-term memory that includes facts and events but does not specifically address the hierarchical organization of these memory items. Thus, semantic networks are the most appropriate term for describing the organization of stored items in long-term memory.