Directed Forgetting Task
Memorize letters, then follow cues to forget part of them — a measure of how well you control what enters memory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have another question? Let us know.
What is directed forgetting?
It tests intentional forgetting: after some items you are told to remember and after others to forget. Later, memory is tested for both kinds.
What is the typical finding?
To-be-forgotten items are recalled worse than to-be-remembered items — evidence that memory depends partly on control processes, not just passive storage.
Does the forgotten information really disappear?
Not necessarily. The effect can come from withdrawing rehearsal or blocking retrieval, and some forgotten material can still influence implicit measures.
Why does this matter?
The paradigm is a model for how people try to push unwanted information aside, with applications in research on rumination and intrusive memories.
References
- MacLeod, C. M. (1998). Directed forgetting. In J. M. Golding & C. M. MacLeod (Eds.), Intentional forgetting: Interdisciplinary approaches (pp. 1-57). Lawrence Erlbaum.
- Sochat, V. V., Eisenberg, I. W., Enkavi, A. Z., Li, J., Bissett, P. G., & Poldrack, R. A. (2016). The Experiment Factory: Standardizing behavioral experiments. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 610. 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00610
- MacLeod, C. M. (1999). The item and list methods of directed forgetting: Test differences and the role of demand characteristics. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 6(1), 123-129. 10.3758/bf03210819
Related Experiments
N-Back Working Memory Task
FeaturedEvaluates working memory capacity by recalling sequences presented N steps back.
Corsi Block Task (Forward & Backward)
FeaturedEvaluates short-term visuospatial memory by recalling block sequences in forward or backward order.
Digit Span Test (DST)
FeaturedMeasures short-term verbal memory by recalling digit sequences in forward and backward order.
About This Experiment
This experiment is an educational adaptation for demonstration purposes. It is not a clinical diagnostic tool. Results reflect your performance in this specific session and should not be interpreted as an assessment of your cognitive abilities.
Data Privacy
Your experiment data is processed and stored locally in your browser. No data is uploaded to any server unless you explicitly export it.
