The influence of directed attention at encoding on source memory retrieval in the young and old: An ERP study

► Direction of attention improves source memory in young and old, but less in the old. ► Older adults can recruit post-retrieval processes to a similar degree as young. ► Older adults exhibit general recollection impairments compared to the young. ► Older adults engage in post-retrieval searches for source-specifying information. ► Directed attention may enhance unitization in the old to the level of the young.