Release from implicit interference in memory and metamemory: older adults know that they can't let go

Cued recall performance is better when cue and targets have a small number of semantic associates, which is an effect of implicit interference from shared associates ( Nelson, McKinney, Gee, & Janczura, 1998). The present study examined age-related effects on memory under conditions of implicit interference. Recall and recognition performance of both younger and older adults was evaluated for small- versus large-set-size cues under two contexts. Comparable cue-set-size effects were obtained for both age groups under extralist cueing, but they were eliminated only for younger adults under intralist cueing. Older adults were not able to use the context to effectively eliminate implicit interference from associates of the cue as did younger adults, perhaps because of an inhibition deficit. Both groups had equivalent metamemory accuracy and sensitivity, indicating that the monitoring of learning prior to a test reflected the effects of implicit interference and is not impaired by aging.