The vulnerability of memory to emotional and perceptual factors.

Abstract

Past research on false memory employed word lists from the Deese-Roediger McDermott (DRM) paradigm as study materials. In order to present participants with a more realistic portrayal of life events, paragraphs built on the DRM word lists were used in this study. Participants were then tested on their memory of these words after reading the paragraphs which differed by emotional and perceptual factors, as well as intensity. The tests included studied words and other non-presented associated words. Results showed that emotional valence produced higher rates of false memory as compared to perceptual elaboration but intensity had no effect. The implications of this research into false memory are that one should be cautious when emotions are involved in clinical therapies and legal processes.