Abstract
False memories are well-established, episodic memory phenomena: Semantically related associates are confidently and erroneously remembered as studied items. We report four experiments yielding similar effects in a working memory paradigm. Four semantically related words were retained over a brief interval. Whether or not the interval was filled with a math verification task, semantically related lures were mistakenly recognized as members of the memory set and took longer to reject than did unrelated negative probes. In a short-term recall task, semantic intrusions exceeded other errors (e.g., phonemic). Our results demonstrate false memory effects for a subspan list when a mere 4 sec was given between study and test. Such rapid semantic errors presumably result from associative processing, may be related to familiarity-based proactive interference in working memory, and are consistent with recent models that integrate short- and long-term memory processes.
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This research was supported by NIA Grant R01AG18286 (to P.A.R.-L.) and NIMH Grant F31MH079536 (to A.S.A.). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
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Atkins, A.S., Reuter-Lorenz, P.A. False working memories? Semantic distortion in a mere 4 seconds. Memory & Cognition 36, 74–81 (2008). https://doi.org/10.3758/MC.36.1.74
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/MC.36.1.74