What are the most effective psychological techniques for unlearning information What are the most effective psychological techniques for unlearning information?

Let me given you a simple example for clarity's sake:
In high school, you learn that electrons orbit around a nucleus, whereas in reality electrons are actually at every point of the orbit at the same time. How would you go about unlearning the initial fact learnt in high school? It seems that the earlier fact is retrieved subconsciously since it has become a habit.

In the case of this simple example, it seems to be easier to replace the earlier fact. However, this appears to be problematic when dealing with more advanced concepts such as unlearning a simplified version of how fMRI functions.
From the book memory the following extract might be helpful:


  …, the association between a stimulus and a trace will be weakened
  whenever that trace is retrieved inappropriately. In effect, the bond
  between the cue and the target gets “punished”. For example, suppose
  that you try to retrieve the new password to your e-mail account.
  According to the unlearning view, if you recall your old password and
  realize the mistake, the association between the cue password and the
  original password will get weakened, decreasing the chances that it
  will pop up again in the future. If the old password is punished often
  enough, the association might grow so weak that it will no longer
  activate that trace; stimulus will be decoupled from the response.


So if the old information is punished many times it will start to loose its strength, and if at the same time the new information is rewarded, the new information will replace the old.

Reference:

Melton, A., &amp; Irwin, J. (1940). The influence of degree of interpolated learning on retroactive inhibition and the overt transfer of specific responses. American Journal of Psychology , 53, 173-203.