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Inhibitory processes and the control of memory retrieval
Benjamin J. Levy1, Michael C. Anderson
1Dept of Psychology, 1227 University of Oregon, 97403-1227, Eugene, OR, USA
Trends in Cognitive Sciences
|July 12, 2002
Summary
Efforts to suppress unwanted memories engage executive control processes, similar to overriding motor responses. These same control mechanisms paradoxically lead to memory failures for the suppressed information.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Psychology
Background:
- Individuals frequently encounter unwanted thoughts and memories.
- The common response involves attempting to suppress these intrusive memories from awareness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying memory suppression.
- To explore the relationship between executive control, memory retrieval, and motor response inhibition.
Main Methods:
- The study likely involved experimental paradigms assessing memory suppression and executive function.
- Neuroimaging techniques may have been employed to examine overlapping neural mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Memory suppression relies on executive-control processes.
- These executive control processes are analogous to those used in overriding motor responses.
- The act of suppression leads to persistent memory deficits for the targeted items.
Conclusions:
- Memory failures are often a consequence of the very mechanisms used to control thought.
- Executive control plays a critical role in both inhibiting unwanted memories and executing voluntary actions.