ABSTRACT

Although forgetting is usually considered a memory error, intentional forgetting can function as an adaptive mechanism. The current study examined the effect of increased processing time on directed forgetting in aging as a mechanism to compensate for age-related forgetting. Specifically, an item-method directed forgetting paradigm was used in conjunction with Remember/Know/New responding to examine the effect of cue duration (1, 3, 5 s) on directed forgetting and remembering in younger and older adults. Results indicated that increased processing time improved performance in both age groups. Critically, older adults exhibited a linear increase in directed remembering performance across all cue durations which was related to individual differences in cognitive reserve. Specifically, those older adults with the highest levels of cognitive functioning showed the greatest memory benefit in the longest cue duration condition. These findings indicate the importance of processing time in accounting for intentional memory performance in older adults.

摘要

虽然遗忘通常被认为是一种记忆错误，但有意遗忘可以作为一种适应性机制。目前的研究检查了增加处理时间对衰老中定向遗忘的影响，作为一种补偿与年龄相关的遗忘的机制。具体来说，项目方法定向遗忘范式与记住/知道/新响应结合使用，以检查提示持续时间（1、3、5 秒）对年轻人和老年人定向遗忘和记忆的影响。结果表明，处理时间的增加提高了两个年龄组的表现。至关重要的是，老年人在所有提示持续时间中表现出定向记忆表现的线性增加，这与认知储备的个体差异有关。具体来说，那些认知功能水平最高的老年人在最长提示​​持续时间的条件下表现出最大的记忆益处。这些发现表明处理时间在解释老年人的有意记忆表现方面的重要性。