Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory01:14

Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory

839
The cerebellum, while traditionally associated with motor control, also plays a crucial role in memory, particularly in procedural memory, which involves learning motor tasks that become automatic through repetition. For example, studies have shown that when the cerebellum is damaged, individuals or animals lose the ability to learn conditioned motor responses, such as the conditioned eye-blink response in classical conditioning experiments with rabbits. This study demonstrates the...
839
Interference and Decay01:16

Interference and Decay

335
Forgetting is a complex cognitive phenomenon influenced by several factors, among which interference and decay are particularly prominent. These processes explain why individuals often struggle to retrieve specific information from memory, leading to lapses in recall that can be observed in everyday situations.
Interference occurs when competing memories hinder the retrieval of particular information. It can be classified into two types: proactive and retroactive interference. Proactive...
335
Forgetting01:21

Forgetting

266
Forgetting is an intrinsic aspect of human memory, characterized by the gradual loss or inaccessibility of information over time. Hermann Ebbinghaus, a pioneering psychologist, extensively studied this phenomenon and formulated the forgetting curve. This curve illustrates that memory loss occurs rapidly immediately after learning and then decelerates over time. Several mechanisms contribute to forgetting, including encoding failure, storage decay, retrieval failure, and interference.
Encoding...
266
Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory01:26

Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory

1.8K
Memory is one of the most vital higher mental functions of the brain. Memory is closely related to learning because it enables us to retain information and experiences from our past to use them in our present life. It also helps us to remember facts, events, and skills, such as riding a bike or swimming. There are two types of memory — declarative memory, which involves memorizing facts or events, and procedural memory, which enables us to remember how to do something like writing or...
1.8K
Implicit Memories01:24

Implicit Memories

330
Implicit memories, also known as non-declarative memories, are long-term memories that function outside of conscious awareness. These memories influence behavior and skills without explicit knowledge. This type of memory is evident in tasks like playing tennis, snowboarding, and texting. Implicit memory has three subsystems: procedural memory, conditioning, and priming. This type of memory is essential in various activities, from everyday tasks to specialized skills.
One key aspect of implicit...
330
High-Level and Low-Level Awareness01:19

High-Level and Low-Level Awareness

538
Controlled processes in human consciousness represent high-alert mental states where individuals deliberately focus their attention on achieving specific goals. Controlled processes can be seen in situations like mastering new technology, where a person might become so absorbed that they ignore surrounding distractions. Such processes involve selective attention, requiring one to concentrate on particular elements of experience while disregarding others. These are governed by executive...
538

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Universal rhythmic architecture uncovers two modes of neural dynamics.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Forgetting as a consequence of retrieval suppression: A meta-analytic review.

Journal of experimental psychology. General·2026
Same author

Trans-synaptic molecular context of NMDA receptor nanodomains.

Nature communications·2025
Same author

Brain mechanisms underlying the inhibitory control of thought.

Nature reviews. Neuroscience·2025
Same author

Large Donor CRISPR for Whole-Coding Sequence Replacement of Cell Adhesion Molecule LRRTM2.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience·2025
Same author

Prefrontally mediated inhibition of memory systems in dissociative amnesia.

Psychological medicine·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 9, 2025

A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions
10:38

A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions

Published on: July 16, 2015

13.9K

Active Forgetting: Adaptation of Memory by Prefrontal Control.

Michael C Anderson1, Justin C Hulbert2

  • 1Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge. Cambridge CB2 7EF, United Kingdom;

Annual Review of Psychology
|September 15, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Active forgetting mechanisms help regulate emotions and facilitate learning by actively suppressing memories. Recent research reveals brain pathways, like the prefrontal cortex, control this process, impacting memory function.

Keywords:
emotion regulationforgettinginhibitory controlmemory suppressionprefrontal cortex

More Related Videos

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients
05:48

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients

Published on: June 12, 2020

6.2K
Reversible Cooling-induced Deactivations to Study Cortical Contributions to Obstacle Memory in the Walking Cat
09:43

Reversible Cooling-induced Deactivations to Study Cortical Contributions to Obstacle Memory in the Walking Cat

Published on: December 11, 2017

7.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 9, 2025

A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions
10:38

A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions

Published on: July 16, 2015

13.9K
The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients
05:48

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients

Published on: June 12, 2020

6.2K
Reversible Cooling-induced Deactivations to Study Cortical Contributions to Obstacle Memory in the Walking Cat
09:43

Reversible Cooling-induced Deactivations to Study Cortical Contributions to Obstacle Memory in the Walking Cat

Published on: December 11, 2017

7.2K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Memory Research

Background:

  • Psychologists have long debated if forgetting is an active process serving functional roles.
  • Recent advancements have significantly expanded our understanding of the neural underpinnings of active forgetting.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the brain mechanisms driving active forgetting.
  • To investigate how active forgetting influences memory and cognitive functions.
  • To understand the implications for psychiatric disorders.

Main Methods:

  • Investigated the role of the prefrontal cortex in top-down control of memory.
  • Examined inhibitory control mechanisms in memory suppression.
  • Extended research to nonhuman animal models.

Main Results:

  • Identified the prefrontal cortex's crucial role in actively suppressing memory traces via inhibitory control.
  • Demonstrated that active forgetting can induce temporary amnesia (anterograde and retrograde).
  • Established active forgetting mechanisms in animal models, enabling multilevel analysis.

Conclusions:

  • Active forgetting is a crucial adaptive mechanism regulated by the brain to meet cognitive and emotional goals.
  • Understanding these processes offers insights into memory regulation and vulnerability to psychiatric conditions.