Work

Are stronger memories forgotten more slowly? No evidence that memory strength influences the rate of forgetting

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: Information stored in visual short-term memory is used ubiquitously in daily life; however, it is forgotten rapidly within seconds. When more items are to be remembered, they are forgotten faster, potentially suggesting that stronger memories are forgotten less rapidly. Here we tested this prediction with three experiments that assessed the influence of memory strength on the rate of forgetting of visual information without manipulating the number of items. Forgetting rate was assessed by comparing the accuracy of reports in a delayed-estimation task following relatively short and long retention intervals. In the first experiment, we compared the forgetting rate of items that were directly fixated, to items that were not. In Experiments 2 and 3 we manipulated memory strength by extending the exposure time of one item in the memory array. As expected, direct fixation and longer exposure led to better accuracy of reports, reflecting stronger memory. However, in all three experiments, we did not find evidence that increased memory strength moderated the forgetting rate.

Source: PLoS ONE

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200292

Authors: Haggar Cohen-Dallal, Isaac Fradkin, Yoni Pertzov

Institution: Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Language: English

Topic: Memory Processes and Influences

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,382

Funder: Israel Science Foundation