Selective Forgetting of Aversive Memories Cued in the Right Hemisphere

Abstract

Several writers have suggested that there is selective inhibition of aversive right hemisphere processes from reaching the left hemisphere, thus reducing reportable awareness, although the right hemisphere processes might still affect behavior. Two similar experiments are reported supporting this theory. In the first of three phases, subjects learned a paired associate list to a criterion of one perfect trial. Second, distant associates of some of the words learned in phase 1 were punished. Third, subjects attempted to recall the first word list, with recall cued sometimes in the left visual field and sometimes in the right. Associates of punished words were more likely to be forgotten than control words, when cued in the left visual field so they had to cross from right to left hemisphere to be vocalized. Surprisingly, associates of punished words were remembered better when cued in the right visual field.