The positive ramifications of false memories using a perceptual closure task

H. Otgaar*, M.L. Howe, J. van Beers, R. van Hoof, N. Bronzwaer, T. Smeets

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

The negative features of false memories are frequently at the foreground of false memory research. However, it has become increasingly apparent that false memories also have positive consequences. In two experiments, we examined the positive consequences of false memories. Participants were visually presented with false memory word lists and received a recognition task. In a modified perceptual closure test, participants received degraded visual representations of words (false, true, and unrelated items) that became clearer over time. Participants had to identify them as fast as possible. Identifications based on false memories were significantly faster than those based on true memories and (un)related items. A roughly similar pattern was observed when no recognition task was used and when critical lures were replaced with other items (Experiment 2). Our results indicate that false memories can be beneficial for problem-solving tasks and counter the standard perspective that false memories are inherently negative in nature. (C) 2014 Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)43-50
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition
Volume4
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2015

Keywords

  • ACTIVATION THEORY
  • ADAPTIVE MEMORY
  • ADULTS
  • Adaptive memory
  • CHILDRENS
  • CONSEQUENCES
  • DEVELOPMENTAL-TRENDS
  • EVOLUTION
  • False memory
  • ILLUSIONS
  • INCREASES
  • INTELLIGENCE
  • Perceptual closure task

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