Directed forgetting in associative memory: Dissociating item and associative impairment.

Abstract

We report three item-method directed forgetting (DF) studies to evaluate whether DF impairs primarily item memory, or whether it also impairs associative memory. The current studies used a modified associative recognition paradigm that allowed disentangling item impairment from associative impairment in DF. Participants studied scene-object pairings, followed by DF cues (item-method), and at test were presented with a previously studied scene along with three objects, one of which was studied with that scene (target), whereas the remaining two objects were studied with different scenes (lures). Experiment 1 used an associative encoding orienting task, and DF impairment was observed only when the forget targets were paired with forget lures within the test display; however, DF was eliminated when the forget targets were paired with remember lures, possibly due to a recall-to-reject strategy. Experiment 2 used an object-focused orienting task that downplayed the encoding of associative information. The results revealed the opposite of Experiment 1, with significant DF when the forget targets were paired with remember lures, and no DF when the lures and the target came from the same memory instruction. Experiment 3 used the same orienting task as Experiment 1, but testing used a sequential procedure, where item recognition was assessed first, followed by associative recognition test. Conditionalizing associative recognition on item recognition outcomes confirmed that DF impairment of associative memory can be obtained despite retained memory for forget-cued objects. Overall, the results provide strong support for the impairment of associative memory by DF.

Better source memory for remembered to-be-forgotten items than for remembered to-be-remembered items.

“…In the present experiments, we assessed source memory with a source identification task and found evidence in favor of a source memory advantage for recognized F items. At first glance, this finding seems at odds with recent previous research showing a R item source memory advantage in a reverse source identification task (Whitlock et al, 2020, 2022). In the reverse source identification task, the source is reinstated during test to see whether item memory profits from this source reinstatement.…”

“…OTT, HÖHS, AND RUMMEL 14 (Whitlock et al, 2020(Whitlock et al, , 2022. In the reverse source identification task, the source is reinstated during test to see whether item memory profits from this source reinstatement.…”

“…This finding would suggest that context information (here operationalized in the form of background pictures) is similarly available and influential for both R and F items during retrieval. However, Whitlock et al (2020Whitlock et al ( , 2022 recently conducted a similar study in which they presented R and F items (pictures) in front of background scenes. At test, participants were presented with the scenes and had to select the correct corresponding item from study among distractor items.…”