Research

When selective memory retrieval refreshes memories

If memories are retrieved some time after they were encoded—and are therefore already more difficult to recall—retrieving some of these memories can facilitate the retrieval of others. Context reactivation processes play a central role in this. Selective retrieval reactivates the temporal context during encoding and thus leads to the rejuvenation of other memories encoded at the same time.

Key publications:

• Bäuml, K.-H. T. & Trißl, L. (2022). Selective memory retrieval can revive forgotten memories. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119, e2114377119. view full text as pdf
• Bäuml, K.-H. T., Meixensperger, S. R., & Hirsch, M. L. (2025). Reinstating memories' temporal context at encoding causes Sisyphus-like memory rejuvenation. proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 122, e2114377119. view full text as pdf

Memory benefits of testing memorised material

Repeatedly retrieving stored memories improves the subsequent recall of those memories compared to a situation in which the memories are merely presented repeatedly. The subsequent encoding of additional memories also benefits from such retrieval practice. Even tests administered before the actual learning process begins—and which thus amount to little more than guessing—can promote long-term memory retention.

Key publications:

• Pastötter, B., Schicker, S., Niedernhuber, J., & Bäuml, K.-H. T. (2011). Retrieval during learning facilitates subsequent memory encoding. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, & Cognition, 37, 287-297. view full text as pdf
• Kliegl, O., Bartl, J., & Bäuml, K.-H. T. (2024). The pretesting effect comes to full fruition after prolonged retention interval. Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition, 13, 63-70. view full text as pdf

Forgetting outdated memories

Replacing outdated, now-irrelevant memories with newer, more relevant ones is the key to an efficient memory system. This type of memory updating occurs when people, after encoding certain memories, are asked to forget those memories before encoding other, supposedly more relevant memories. The instruction to forget impairs recall of the outdated information and improves recall of the newer information.

Key publications:

• Pastötter, B. & Bäuml, K.-H. (2010). Amount of postcue encoding predicts amount of directed forgetting. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, & Cognition, 36, 54-65. view full text as pdf

• Abel, M. & Bäuml, K.-H. T. (2017). Testing the context-change account of list-method directed forgetting: The role of retention interval. Journal of Memory and Language, 92, 170-182. view full text as pdf (item material)

   

When selective retrieval of memories leads to forgetting

Retrieving memories immediately after they are stored in memory can lead to the forgetting of other memories. Inhibitory processes play a critical role in this. To facilitate the selective retrieval of specific memories, other, potentially interfering memories are actively inhibited, which leads to a weakening of the memory representation of these memories and thus to an impairment in recalling them.

Key publications:

• Bäuml, K.-H. (2002). Semantic generation can cause episodic forgetting. Psychological Science, 13, 357-361. view full text as pdf
• Bäuml, K.-H. & Kuhbandner, C. (2007). Remembering can cause forgetting - but not in negative moods. Psychological Science, 18, 111-115. view full text as pdf

Memory in children and older adults

The memory performance of children and older adults is impaired in many ways compared to that of young adults. These impairments include reduced effects of selective memory retrieval, inefficient memory updating, and a diminished positive effect of memory retrieval training. These differences are particularly evident in preschoolers and older adults aged 75 and above.

Key publications:

• Aslan, A., Bäuml, K.-H. & Pastötter, B. (2007). No inhibitory deficit in older adults' episodic memory. Psychological Science, 18, 72-78. view full text as pdf
• Aslan, A. & Bäuml, K.-H. T. (2014). Later maturation of the beneficial than the detrimental effect of selective memory retrieval. Psychological Science, 25, 1025-1030. view full text as pdf

Neural correlates of encoding and forgetting

When new memories are encoded in the brain or existing memories are retrieved, certain brain regions become active. This leads to changes in brain oscillations, which are often reflected in changes in amplitude within specific frequency bands. The brain regions involved and the effects on the oscillations vary depending on the task and differ between encoding and retrieval.

Key publications:

• Hanslmayr, S., Spitzer, B., & Bäuml, K.-H. (2009). Brain oscillations dissociate between semantic and non-semantic encoding of episodic memories. Cerebral Cortex, 19, 1631-1640. view full text as pdf
• Hanslmayr, S., Volberg, G., Wimber, M., Raabe, M., Greenlee, M. & Bäuml, K.-H. T. (2011). The relationship between brain oscillations and BOLD signal during memory formation: a combined EEG-fMRI study. The Journal of Neuroscience, 31, 15674-15680. view full text as pdf