Remembering after a perception of discrepancy: out with the old, in with the two.
A surprising validation of expectation experienced during a recognition test induces the perception of discrepancy and a feeling of familiarity. The authors investigated whether that perception also affects memory performance when it is experienced in the original encounter with a stimulus. Target words were presented in a study phase, half in a context thought to induce the perception of discrepancy. In a subsequent recognition test, that earlier experience increased the accuracy of subjects' discrimination. However, when the subsequent task required a once-versus-twice judgment, that experience caused an illusion of reoccurrence for words presented once. The authors concluded that a perception of discrepancy in an initial encounter may be a valuable aid to later recognition but can also cause systematic memory errors under some circumstances.
Kronlund
Antonia
A
Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada. antonia.kronlund@brocku.ca
Whittlesea
Bruce W A
BW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D010468:Perceptual Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011582:Psychological Theory; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*