"Forgetting or disremembering is the apparent loss or modification of information already encoded and stored in an individual's short or long-term memory."
The inability to retrieve previously stored information.
The forgetting curve: The forgetting curve describes the rate at which information is forgotten over time. Through experiments conducted by Hermann Ebbinghaus, it was found that information is forgotten most quickly in the first few days after learning, and then stabilizes at a slower rate of forgetting over time.
Types of forgetting: The three types of forgetting are proactive interference (old information interfering with new information), retroactive interference (new information interfering with old information), and decay (information simply fading over time).
Forgetting and memory errors: Forgetting is often linked to memory errors, such as confabulation (remembering events that never happened) and source amnesia (forgetting the source of a memory). Understanding these types of errors can help individuals identify them and improve their memory accuracy.
Neural mechanisms of forgetting: The neural mechanisms of forgetting include synaptic pruning and long-term depression, which occur when synapses between neurons weaken or are eliminated. These mechanisms can result in the weakening or loss of memories over time.
Factors affecting forgetting: Numerous factors can impact an individual's ability to remember information, including the complexity of the information, the relevance of the information, and the cognitive load of the individual at the time of encoding.
Methods for reducing forgetting: Some methods for reducing forgetting include spaced repetition (repeated reviewing of information with increasing intervals of time in between), elaborative rehearsal (associating new information with concepts previously learned), and mnemonic devices (using mental imagery, acronyms, and other techniques to associate new information with previously learned concepts).
Comparative forgetting: Comparative forgetting compares an individual's retention of new material to that of other material learned at the same time. Comparing retention rates can help identify factors impacting an individual's ability to remember new information.
Forgetting and clinical disorders: Forgetting can be symptomatic of certain clinical disorders, such as amnesia, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease. Identifying the mechanisms and causes of forgetting in these conditions can help to develop effective treatments.
Retrieval-induced forgetting: Retrieval-induced forgetting occurs when retrieving certain information inhibits the recall of related, but not actively retrieved, information. This phenomenon highlights how the act of retrieving information is critical for future memory retention.
Transience: Transience is the phenomenon whereby memory degrades over time. It occurs when information is not frequently rehearsed, integrated into existing knowledge or connections, or linked to emotions.
Decay: The fading or loss of a memory over time, due to disuse or passage of time.
Interference: Occurs when new information interferes with the ability to remember older information.
Repression: The active process of forgetting memories that are too painful or threatening to remember.
Suppression: The intentional and conscious act of forgetting something, often used as a defense mechanism.
Amnesia: A pathological form of forgetting that can be caused by brain damage, disease, or psychological trauma.
Retrieval Failure: The inability to retrieve or recall information that was previously stored, usually due to a lack of cues or context.
Retroactive Interference: Occurs when learning new information interferes with the ability to remember older information.
Proactive Interference: Occurs when remembering older memories interferes with the ability to learn or remember new information.
"It is a spontaneous or gradual process in which old memories are unable to be recalled from memory storage."
"Problems with remembering, learning and retaining new information are a few of the most common complaints of older adults."
"Retention improves with increased rehearsal. This improvement occurs because rehearsal helps to transfer information into long-term memory."
"Forgetting curves (amount remembered as a function of time since an event was first experienced) have been extensively analyzed."
"The most recent evidence suggests that a power function provides the closest mathematical fit to the forgetting function."
"Forgetting or disremembering is the apparent loss or modification of information already encoded and stored in an individual's short or long-term memory."
"Problems with remembering, learning and retaining new information are a few of the most common complaints of older adults."
"Rehearsal helps to transfer information into long-term memory."
"It is a spontaneous or gradual process in which old memories are unable to be recalled from memory storage."
"Forgetting curves (amount remembered as a function of time since an event was first experienced) have been extensively analyzed."
"Information already encoded and stored in an individual's short or long-term memory can be affected by forgetting."
"Retention improves with increased rehearsal."
"Problems with remembering, learning and retaining new information are a few of the most common complaints of older adults."
"Rehearsal helps to transfer information into long-term memory."
"The most recent evidence suggests that a power function provides the closest mathematical fit to the forgetting function."
"In a process of forgetting, old memories become unable to be recalled from memory storage."
"Retention improves with increased rehearsal."
"Forgetting involves the loss or modification of information already encoded and stored in an individual's short or long-term memory."
"Retention improves with increased rehearsal."