6533b856fe1ef96bd12b3172
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Motivated forgetting reduces veridical memories but slightly increases false memories in both young and healthy older people.
Alfonso PitarqueJoaquín EscuderoJuan C. MeléndezSalvador AlgarabelOmar BekkersEncarna Satorressubject
AdultMaleAgingAdolescentExperimental and Cognitive PsychologyFalse memory050105 experimental psychology03 medical and health sciencesIntrusionYoung Adult0302 clinical medicineArts and Humanities (miscellaneous)Developmental and Educational PsychologyHumans0501 psychology and cognitive sciencesYoung adultAgedAged 80 and overMotivationRecall05 social sciencesAge FactorsMotivated forgettingMiddle AgedMental RecallFemalePsychologyOlder people030217 neurology & neurosurgeryCognitive psychologydescription
The aim of the current study is to examine the effects of motivated forgetting and aging on true and false memory. Sixty young and 54 healthy older adults were instructed to study two lists of 18 words each. Each list was composed of three sets of six words associated with three non-presented critical words. After studying list 1, half of the participants received the instruction to forget List 1, whereas the other half received the instruction to remember List 1. Next, all the subjects studied list 2; finally, they were asked to remember the words studied in both lists. The results showed that when participants intended to forget the studied List 1, they were less likely to recall the studied words, but more likely to intrude the critical words. That is, we can intentionally forget something but this can also entail the intrusion of some related false memories.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-09-26 | Consciousness and cognition |