Remembering can cause forgetting: Retrieval dynamics in long-term memory.
Abstract
Three studies show that the retrieval process itself causes long-lasting forgetting. Ss studied 8 categories (e.g., Fruit). Half the members of half the categories were then repeatedly practiced through retrieval tests (e.g., Fruit Or_____). Category-cued recall of unpracticed members of practiced categories was impaired on a delayed test. Experiments 2 and 3 identified 2 significant features of this retrieval-induced forgetting: The impairment remains when output interference is controlled, suggesting a retrieval-based suppression that endures for 20 min or more, and the impairment appears restricted to high-frequency members. Low-frequency members show little impairment, even in the presence of strong, practiced competitors that might be expected to block access to those items. These findings suggest a critical role for suppression in models of retrieval inhibition and implicate the retrieval process itself in everyday forgetting.
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Retrieval-induced forgetting occurs when practicing retrieval of a subset of studied information harms performance for the nontested information.
“In the latter situation, practicing retrieval of a subset of studied information can harm performance for the nontested information.”
From Practicing Retrieval Facilitates Learning (2021) · cites this paper as Anderson et al. 1994
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- Authors
- Anderson, M. C., Bjork, R. A., & Bjork, E. L.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Los Angeles (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition
- Published
- 1994
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 1063-1087
- ISSN
- 0278-7393 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1285
- OpenAlex
- W2043527309
- Cited by
- 1,482
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 19 · 2025: 46 · 2024: 60 · 2023: 46 · 2022: 59 · 2021: 73 · 2020: 57 · 2019: 74 · 2018: 92 · 2017: 67 · 2016: 64 · 2015: 91 · 2014: 91 · 2013: 86 · 2012: 91
- FWCI
- 5.37
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Experimental Psychology Learning Memory and Cognition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Keywords
- retrieval-induced forgetting, long-term memory, retrieval inhibition, suppression, output interference, word frequency, memory retrieval
- MeSH terms
- Humans, Learning, Memory, Mental Recall, Task Performance and Analysis
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