Testing the Cue Dependence of Problem-Solving-Induced Forgetting

Abstract

Abstract:Thinking and remembering can cause forgetting. In the context of remembering, retrieving one item can cause the forgetting of other items (Anderson, Bjork, & Bjork, 1994). A similar phenomenon has been observed in the context of creative problem solving-attempting to generate a target associate in the Remote Associates Test (RAT) can cause the forgetting of inappropriate associates (Storm, Angello, & Bjork, 2011). Experiment 1 examined whether this problem-solving-induced forgetting is cue dependent or cue independent by manipulating the cues used at final test. Whereas some participants were tested on the inappropriate associates using the same cues that were used during problem solving, other participants were tested using new, or independent, cues. Problem-solving-induced forgetting was observed in the same-cue condition, but not in the new-cue condition. Experiment 2 replicated the overall absence of problem-solvinginduced forgetting in the new-cue condition and found that individual differences in cue-independent forgetting did not predict problem-solving performance on a separate set of RAT problems.

Creativity on tap? Effects of alcohol intoxication on creative cognition

“…When initial solution attempts get on the wrong track, this can cause blocks to immediate problem solving, which is known as mental fixation (Smith & Blankenship, 1991). These fixations typically fade with time, which is considered a central mechanism behind incubation effects (Storm & Koppel, 2012; Vul & Pashler, 2007). In a similar way, alcohol may reduce fixation effects by loosening the focus of attention and hence impeding the building and maintenance of dominant but inappropriate mental representations.…”

Escaping mental fixation: Incubation and inhibition in creative problem solving

“…Storm and colleagues have argued that problem solvers can also overcome fixation by directly inhibiting the associates causing fixation (Storm & Angello, 2010;Storm, Angello, & Bjork, 2011;Storm & Koppel, 2012; for a review, see Storm, 2011). When misleading associates become activated they cause fixation and, rather than wait for fixation to dissipate on its own, participants may enlist an inhibitory mechanism to directly reduce the accessibility of misleading associates.…”

A progress report on the inhibitory account of retrieval-induced forgetting

“…It is important to note that failures to demonstrate cue independence have also occurred (e.g., Camp, Pecher, & Schmidt, 2005Perfect et al, 2004;Storm & Koppel, 2012;, and some have argued that independent cues are not truly independent (e.g., Camp, Pecher, Schmidt, & Zeelenberg, 2009;Perfect et al, 2004). For example, although a new cue may be presented at test, participants may strategically use the studied cue to covertly mediate their retrieval attempt.…”

“…However, the extent to which participants suffered fixation was predicted by the extent to which they exhibited retrieval-induced forgetting. Whereas participants who exhibited the least forgetting suffered substantial fixation, participants who exhibited the most forgetting suffered little, if any, fixation (see also Storm, 2011a;Storm et al, 2011;Storm & Koppel, 2012).…”