ABSTRACT

Directed forgetting involves the targeted removal of memory representations. Previous research has indicated that directed forgetting in working memory reduces the amount of proactive interference for to-be-forgotten memoranda relative to to-be-remembered memoranda. However, it is unknown how directed forgetting within working memory compares to an encode-only condition, in which items are encoded but do not receive a forget cue nor a remember instruction. Here, younger adults (N = 43) performed a working memory directed forgetting task with encode-only trials and a recent probes manipulation to induce proactive interference. Results indicated that (1) proactive interference for encoded-only items did not significantly differ from proactive interference for to-be-remembered items, and (2) proactive interference for to-be-forgotten items was significantly lower than that for both the remember and encode-only conditions. Thus, the present research provides support for the theories that directed forgetting instructions result in differential weakening of targeted memory representations in working memory, and that forget instructions promote goal-directed removal of memory representations. Forget instructions do not simply curtail processing after encoding. This research adds to the understanding of the removal of information from working memory and to the consequences and mechanistic processes of directed forgetting within working memory.

摘要

定向遗忘涉及到有针对性的删除内存表示形式。先前的研究表明，相对于要记住的备忘录，工作记忆中的定向遗忘减少了对要忘记的备忘录的积极干预。但是，尚不知道工作存储器中的定向遗忘与仅编码的情况相比如何，在这种情况下，对项目进行了编码，但没有收到遗忘提示或记忆指令。在这里，年轻人（N = 43）使用仅编码的试验和最近的探针操作来诱发主动干扰，从而执行了针对工作记忆的遗忘任务。结果表明：（1）仅编码项目的主动干扰与被记住项目的主动干扰没有显着差异；（2）被遗忘项目的主动干扰显着低于两个记忆的主动干扰和仅编码条件。因此，本研究为定向遗忘指令导致工作记忆中的目标记忆表示的差异性减弱以及遗忘指令促进目标定向的记忆表示的消除提供了理论支持。忘记指令并不会简单地减少编码后的处理。