Inhibitionsmekanismens roll i Retrieval-Induced Forgetting Påverkan av kognitiv utmattning

Sammanfattning: Retrieval-induced forgetting (RIF) refers to a memory phenomena where retrieval of a memory in some cases can deteriorate and affect the accessibility of related memories. A prominent explanation is presented in the inhibitory theory where active inhibition is considered to cause RIF by facilitating retrieval of a target memory among competing memories in selective memory retrieval. If exertion of inhibition leads to reduce RIF due to reduction of the facilitating function of the inhibitory mechanism, it would be a strong support to the idea that inhibition conduces RIF. Forty university students carried out either a demanding or a non-demanding version of an experiment prior to a final RIF test. Comparisons were made between control and fatigue versions of the experiment. The most relevant findings provided partial support for the hypothesis. The experiment managed to induce a reliable RIF effect that was significant in the baseline version, but did show a tendency consistent with the hypothesis in the fatigue version.