ABSTRACT
The very idea that memories of real events, even vivid experiences, can exist without one’s awareness of those memories, and without the unaided ability to access them, can be difficult for some to believe. This chapter considers definitions of memory blocks and recovered memories and will review laboratory research on these subjects. Cognitive mechanisms that could cause blocked and recovered memories will be discussed, including the role of conscious recollection and automatic retrieval, interference, cue-dependent memory, and metamemory mechanisms. The chapter also points out some as yet unanswered research questions concerning blocked and recovered memories.
