Optimal testing time for suppression of competitors during interference resolution

ABSTRACT

Interference between competing memory traces is a common cause of memory failure. Recent research has demonstrated a suppression mechanism that operates at retrieval to resolve interference. Using an adaptation of the suppression paradigm in Healey, Ngo, and Hasher [(2014). Below-baseline suppression of competitors during interference resolution by younger but not older adults. Psychological Science, 25(1), 145–151. doi:10.1177/0956797613501169], we tested whether the ability to suppress competing memory traces varies with the synchrony between optimal arousal period and time of testing. We replicate the below-baseline suppression effect for young adults tested at optimal times of day, and present novel evidence that they do not show competitor suppression during non-optimal times of day. In fact, competitors are actually strengthened at non-optimal times. Our results suggest that the ability to resolve interference by suppression varies with circadian arousal.

KEYWORDS:

• Suppression
• inhibition
• chronotype
• circadian

Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. Karl Healey who contributed invaluable insight and expertise to this research. We also thank Elizabeth Howard for her assistance collecting the data.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by a grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada [grant number 487235] (LH) and a Graduate Student Fellowship from the University of Toronto (KWJN).