Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Anderson, Michael C.
• Levy, Benjamin J.

Titel

Suppressing Unwanted Memories

Ist Teil von

• Current directions in psychological science : a journal of the American Psychological Society, 2009-08, Vol.18 (4), p.189-194

Ort / Verlag

Los Angeles, CA: Wiley Subscription Services

Erscheinungsjahr

2009

Quelle

Alma/SFX Local Collection

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• When reminded of something we would prefer not to think about, we often try to exclude the unwanted memory from awareness. Recent research indicates that people control unwanted memories by stopping memory retrieval, using mechanisms similar to those used to stop reflexive motor responses. Controlling unwanted memories is implemented by the lateral prefrontal cortex, which acts to reduce activity in the hippocampus, thereby impairing retention of those memories. Individual differences in the efficacy of these systems may underlie variation in how well people control intrusive memories and adapt in the aftermath of trauma. This research supports the existence of an active forgetting process and establishes a neurocognitive model for inquiry into motivated forgetting.