Adaptive false memory: Imagining future scenarios increases false memories in the DRM paradigm

Grace, Lydia; Anderson, Rachel J.; Dewhurst, Stephen A.; van Esch, Lotte

Abstract

Previous research has shown that rating words for their relevance to a future scenario enhances memory for those words. The current study investigated the effect of future thinking on false memory using the Deese/Roediger–McDermott (DRM) procedure. In Experiment 1, participants rated words from 6 DRM lists for relevance to a past or future event (with or without planning) or in terms of pleasantness. In a surprise recall test, levels of correct recall did not vary between the rating tasks, but the future rating conditions led to significantly higher levels of false recall than the past and pleasantness conditions did. Experiment 2 found that future rating led to higher levels of false recognition than did past and pleasantness ratings but did not affect correct recognition. The effect in false recognition was, however, eliminated when DRM items were presented in random order. Participants in Experiment 3 were presented with both DRM lists and lists of unrelated words. Future rating increased levels of false recognition for DRM lures but did not affect correct recognition for DRM or unrelated lists. The findings are discussed in terms of the view that false memories can be associated with adaptive memory functions.

Citation

Grace, L., Anderson, R. J., Dewhurst, S. A., & van Esch, L. (2016). Adaptive false memory: Imagining future scenarios increases false memories in the DRM paradigm. Memory & cognition, 44(7), 1076-1084. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13421-016-0620-0

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 29, 2016
• Online Publication Date: May 12, 2016
• Publication Date: 2016-10
• Deposit Date: Feb 6, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 23, 2017
• Journal: Memory and cognition
• Print ISSN: 0090-502X
• Electronic ISSN: 1532-5946
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 44
• Issue: 7
• Pages: 1076-1084
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/s13421-016-0620-0
• Keywords: False memory, Adaptive memory, Future thinking
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/447836
• Publisher URL: http://link.springer.com/article/10.3758%2Fs13421-016-0620-0#aboutarticle
• Additional Information: This is a copy of an open access article published in: Memory and cognition, 2016, v.44 issue 7.