Finally, metamemory paradigms have successfully highlighted the lack of awareness of memory deficits in alcoholics early in abstinence (Le Berre et al., 2016; Le Berre et al., 2010). Because metamemory is a complex and multidimensional higher-order cognitive function, involving processing components relevant for monitoring and controlling memory (Flavell, 1971; Flavell and Wellman, 1977; Nelson and Narens, 1990), a theoretical framework (Nelson and Narens, 1990) was proposed that involved control and monitoring processes invoked during acquisition, retention, and retrieval of information. The control component refers to regulation applied during a mnemonic activity to improve memory performance, such as selection and use of strategies or decisions on allocation of time and cognitive resources, depending on task demands. The monitoring component assesses the progress and the success of memory functioning. Heretofore, metamemory abilities were essentially investigated by monitoring measures (i.e., FOK and RCJ measures) focused on the memory retrieval phase. Therefore, the exploration of metamemory in alcoholism could be extended by using other monitoring measures such as the ‘judgment of learning’ assessed during the learning phase and by considering the control component of metamemory.
