Similarity and inhibition in long-term memory: Evidence for a two-factor theory

Anderson, M C and Green, Colin and McCulloch, K C (2000) Similarity and inhibition in long-term memory: Evidence for a two-factor theory. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 26 (5). pp. 1141-1159. ISSN 0278-7393

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Abstract

Recalling a past experience often requires the suppression of related memories that compete with the retrieval target, causing memory impairment known as retrieval-induced forgetting. Two experiments examined how retrieval-induced forgetting varies with the similarity of the competitor and the target item (target-competitor similarity) and with the similarity between the competitors themselves (competitor-competitor similarity). According to the pattern-suppression model (M. C. Anderson & B. A. Spellman, 1995), high target-competitor similarity should reduce impairment, whereas high competitor-competitor similarity should increase it. Both predictions were supported: Encoding target-competitor similarities not only eliminated retrieval-induced forgetting but also reversed it, whereas encoding competitor-competitor similarities increased impairment. The differing effects of target-competitor and competitor-competitor similarity may resolve conflicting results concerning the effects of similarity on inhibition.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/researchoutput/libraryofcongress/bf
Subjects:
?? PSYCHOLOGYEXPERIMENTAL AND COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGYBF PSYCHOLOGY ??
ID Code:
57707
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
03 Sep 2012 11:06
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
17 Sep 2023 01:11