ICPS

2023 International Convention of Psychological Science · 2023

Pressing a Mental Stop Button (but not a Physical One) Inhibits Retrieval of Unwanted Memories

Brussels, Belgium · March 2023

poster · Cognitive Science

  • Kevin van Schie
    Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University
  • Jonathan Fawcett
    Memorial University
  • Michael Anderson
    MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit

Abstract

People can intentionally hit a “stop button” to halt the retrieval of unsettling memories. We show that pressing a mental stop button results in forgetting that is supported by inhibition. Pressing a physical button does not induce forgetting, on its own, without confounding factors that introduce inhibition into the task.

Memory