Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 7, 2026

Reducing State Anxiety Using Working Memory Maintenance
Published on: July 19, 2017
Trait anxiety, working memory capacity, and the effectiveness of memory suppression
Gerd T Waldhauser1, Mikael Johansson, Martin Bäckström
1Department of Psychology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. gerd.waldhauser@psychology.lu.se
Abstract:
We aimed at replicating the finding that humans are able to suppress unwanted memories, and tested whether this ability varies with individual differences in working memory capacity, trait anxiety and defensiveness. In a think/no-think experiment, participants either recalled or suppressed previously learned words for 0, 8 or 16 times. Suppression did not have an overall detrimental effect on later recall performance. However, higher recall rates after repeated suppression were exclusively predicted by higher trait anxiety. These results are discussed in relation to current theories on anxiety and executive control.
Related Concept Videos
Working Memory
Repressed Memory
Information Processing Approach
The Influence of Cognition on Affect
Impact of Schemas
Traumatic Memory

