Aging and Directed Forgetting: Pre-Cue Encoding and Post-Cue Rehearsal Effects

Abstract

The effects of pre-cue encoding and post-cue rehearsal on item-method–directed forgetting in young and older adults were examined. In Experiment 1, level-of-processing manipulations were used to examine pre-cue representations of items in directed forgetting. In Experiment 2, pre-cue levels of processing was manipulated as well as post-cue rehearsal time. In general, young adults showed greater directed forgetting than older adults, and levels of processing did not affect directed forgetting. However, increased post-cue rehearsal time eliminated directed forgetting. These findings are discussed in terms of constraints that influence item-method–directed forgetting. It is suggested that young adults, but not older adults, may use compensatory strategies to overcome these constraints.

We are saddened to report that William Marks passed away on July 11, 2003.

Experiment 1 was supported by a seed grant from the Southeastern Center for Applied Cognitive Aging Research awarded to the first author and a Center of Excellence Grant from the State of Tennessee to the Department of Psychology at the University of Memphis. Portions of this paper were presented at the 1996 Cognitive Aging Conference, Atlanta, GA. The authors are grateful to Wendy Rogers for her constructive comments on drafts of the manuscript. They are also grateful to Rolf Trainor and Holly Prink for the data collection of Experiment 1.

Notes

Note. R = Remember; F = Forget.

Note. R = Remember; F = Forget.

Note. R = Remember; F = Forget.

Note. R = Remember; F = Forget.

¹The authors would like to thank an anonymous reviewer for this suggestion.