This proposal is based on the representational-hierarchical framework, which states that increasingly complex stimulus representations are supported along the posterior-anterior axis of the ventral visual stream, from simple features and feature conjunctions, to the level of a unique object (Bussey & Saksida, 2007; Cowell et al., 2006). According to this view, object-level representations are critical for resolving feature ambiguity between objects sharing overlapping features and are supported by the perirhinal cortex (PRC). When these representations become compromised as a result of damage or dysfunction of PRC, as may occur with increased age (see Burke et al., 2012 and Leal & Yassa, 2015 for reviews), individuals must rely on simple, feature-level representations that are less able to disambiguate targets and foils with overlapping features, resulting in increased false recognition of objects that share common lower level features. Critically, this model makes three specific predictions that are supported by the present data: (a) discrimination between targets and foils with overlapping features should be impaired, even when demands on controlled retrieval processes are minimized, (b) impaired performance arises due to increased vulnerability to feature-level interference, and can be ameliorated by reducing feature-level interference, and (c) common representations support perceptual and mnemonic discriminations of object exemplars sharing overlapping features.