Exploring Mechanisms of Selective Directed Forgetting

Abstract

While some studies have shown that providing a cue to selectively forget one subset of previously learned facts may cause specific forgetting of this information, little is known about the mechanisms underlying this memory phenomenon. In three experiments, we aimed to better understand the nature of the selective directed forgetting (SDF) effect. Participants studied a List 1 consisting of 18 sentences regarding two (or three) different characters and a List 2 consisting of sentences regarding an additional character. In Experiment 1, we explored the role of rehearsal as the mechanism producing SDF by examining the effect of articulatory suppression after List 1 and during List 2 presentation. In Experiments 2 and 3, we explored the role of attentional control mechanisms by introducing a concurrent updating task after List 1 and during List 2 (Experiment 2) and by manipulating the number of characters to be selectively forgotten (1 out of 3 vs. 2 out of 3). Results from the three experiments suggest that neither rehearsal nor context change seem to be the mechanisms underlying SDF, while the pattern of results is consistent with an inhibitory account. In addition, whatever the responsible mechanism is, SDF seems to rely on the available attentional resources and the demands of the task. Our results join other findings to show that SDF is a robust phenomenon and suggest boundary conditions for the effect to be observed.

Reconsidering unconscious persistence: Suppressing unwanted memories reduces their indirect expression in later thoughts

“…Importantly, these forgotten items show repetition priming on indirect tests ( Basden, 1996 , Basden et al, 1993 , Bjork and Bjork, 1996 , Bjork and Bjork, 2003 , Paller, 1990 ), in contrast with the present findings. One reconciliation of these contrasting results is that list-method directed forgetting impairs recall not by inhibiting individual items, but instead by making people forget the “mental context” of the first list (for supportive neuroimaging and behavioral evidence, see Manning et al, 2016 , Bauml et al, 2010 , Sahakyan and Kelley, 2002 ; however, see evidence for selective directed forgetting that questions the sufficiency of this view; Aguirre et al, 2014 , Aguirre et al, 2017 , Delaney et al, 2009 , Kliegl et al, 2013 ). This context-forgetting process may involve inhibiting contextual representations (e.g., Anderson, 2005 , Anderson and Hanslmayr, 2014 , Bauml et al, 2008 , Bauml et al, 2010 , Hanslmayr et al, 2012 ; or a contrasting view, see Sahakyan et al, 2013 , and Sahakyan & Kelley, 2002 ).…”

Intentional Forgetting in Organizations: The Importance of Eliminating Retrieval Cues for Implementing New Routines

“…In their review papers, Nairne and Pandeirada ( 2008 ), Roediger et al ( 2010 ) as well as Anderson and Hanslmayr ( 2014 ) elaborate on motivated forgetting , a mechanism to block fear-inducing memories from becoming conscious, as well as on intentional and directed forgetting. These three concepts have in common that they assume that individuals have executive control processes directed at minimizing the accessibility of memory items and stopping strong habitual responses to cues (Anderson and Green, 2001 ; Aguirre et al, 2017 ; Hu et al, 2017 ). In a current paper by Hu et al ( 2017 ) for example, the authors claim that prior research has shown that suppressing the retrieval of unwanted memory items impairs their retention, as measured with intentional (directed) memory tests (p. 197).…”

“…Intentional forgetting serves a personal implicit or explicit motive (Bjork et al, 1998 ) or an individual or group-related goal (Harris et al, 2010 ). Many everyday situation require updating knowledge by exerting control over the memory (Aguirre et al, 2017 ). If a memory item is not helpful in a current situation, it should be intentionally forgotten, as it competes with the correct memory item that needs to be applied for goal directed behavior (Aguirre et al, 2017 ).…”

Managing Change Through a Work Environment Which Promotes Forgetting

“…When changing processes and tasks, the old memory items are not helpful anymore since they compete with the correct (new) memory item. The old items therefore need to be forgotten [41]. The intention to forget by minimizing the accessibility of a memory item or its habitual retrieval leads to an active repression of the cue-target association.…”