Temporarily Unavailable: Memory Inhibition in Cognitive and Computer Science

TL;DR

This paper reviews how inhibition functions in human memory and explores its emerging applications in computer science, especially for improving information retrieval and management systems.

Contribution

It bridges psychological insights on memory inhibition with computer science approaches, highlighting current uses and future potential of inhibitory mechanisms.

Findings

Inhibition increases processing efficiency in both domains.

Computer science has begun applying inhibition to optimize software.

Future developments include context inhibition for better information management.

Abstract

Inhibition is one of the core concepts in Cognitive Psychology. The idea of inhibitory mechanisms actively weakening representations in the human mind has inspired a great number of studies in various research domains. In contrast, Computer Science only recently has begun to consider inhibition as a second basic processing quality beside activation. Here, we review psychological research on inhibition in memory and link the gained insights with the current efforts in Computer Science of incorporating inhibitory principles for optimizing information retrieval in Personal Information Management. Four common aspects guide this review in both domains: 1. The purpose of inhibition to increase processing efficiency. 2. Its relation to activation. 3. Its links to contexts. 4. Its temporariness. In summary, the concept of inhibition has been used by Computer Science for enhancing software in various ways already. Yet, we also identify areas for promising future developments of inhibitory mechanisms, particularly context inhibition.