The Initiation and Release of Retrieval Inhibition

Abstract

Subjects free recalled or were cued with either four or eight retrieval cues in a modified directed-forgetting study. A directed-forgetting effect was observed for free but not cued recall. In addition, the same cues that initiated blocking for “remember” words were observed to release the suppression for “forget” words. An explanation of the differential effect of experimenter-provided retrieval cues on the retrieval of remember and forget words is provided.