Forgetting: Trace Decay, Trace Transformation and Trace Inhibition
All these memory functions we have been discussing are semi separate processes. We can fail to remember (actually fail to learn) if these processes are disrupted, no doubt.
And of course, as we mentioned earlier, memory performance can falter because of the effects of the Non Habit States.
But what seems unexpected, is that forgetting can also be the result of a process.
In fact, like memory, there are a number of processes associated with forgetting.
We will talk about three here (although there are probably more):
- Trace Decay,
- Trace Transformation and
- Trace Inhibition.
Trace Decay: Although I have seen references to Long-term memory, Trace Decay seems to be more relevant to the Short-term memory process.