Retrieval and Forgetting

Retrieval and Forgetting What is retrieval? Involves the reinstatement, via spreading activation, of a pattern of activation over features that represent a memory It is the presence of the right retrieval cues that activates or makes accessible a particular memory Encoding specificity effect Godden and Baddeley (1975): encode/recall X underwater/on land Eich et al. (1975): state-dependant memory (drug states - tobacco vs. marijuana) Eich and Metcalfe (1989): state-dependant memory (mood states - happy vs. sad) Mood congruence vs. mood dependence Recognition memory Tasks: forced-choice recognition test, yes/no recognition test Signal detection theory Four possible outcomes: hit, miss, false alarm (mistaking a new item as old), correct rejection Memory Strength: Items have a familiarity level depending on prior exposure Word frequency effect: Free recall: High-frequency (common) words are better recalled Recognition memory: Surprisingly, low-frequency words are better recognized Item strength alone cannot account for recognition performance Dual-process theories of recognition memory Familiarity-based recognition: A fast, automatic recognition process based on the perception of a memoryʼs strength Recollection: The slower, more attention-demanding component of recognition memory in dual-process models, which involves retrieval of contextual information "" 3 / 4 about the memory Inhibition A mechanism that actively interferes with and reduces the likelihood of recall of particular information The prefrontal lobes are involved in many aspects of memory that have to do with control of memory, monitoring of memory, and inhibition of responses Retrieval-based inhibition Anderson et al. (1994): RP+, RP-, NRP PTSD: Therapy that encourages patients to recall related but nontraumatic wartime memories may work to inhibit the unbidden retrieval of the traumatic ones Part-set cueing: cueing part of a list of items interferes with retrieving the rest of the list items Proactive vs. retroactive interference Source monitoring error