title: List blocking and longer retention intervals reveal an influence of gist processing for lexically ambiguous critical lures.
abstract: In two experiments, we examined veridical and false memory for lists of associates from two meanings (e.g., stumble, trip, harvest, pumpkin, etc.) that converged upon a single, lexically ambiguous critical lure (e.g., fall), in order to compare the activation-monitoring and fuzzy-trace false memory accounts. In Experiment 1, we presented study lists that were blocked or alternated by meaning (within subjects), followed by a free recall test completed immediately or after a 2.5-min delay. Correct recall was greater for blocked than for alternated lists. Critical-lure false recall was greater for blocked lists on an immediate test, whereas both list types produced equivalent false recall on a delayed test. In Experiment 2, lists blocked and alternated by meaning were presented via a between-subjects design, in order to eliminate possible list-type carryover effects. Correct recall replicated the result from Experiment 1; however, blocking lists increased false recall on delayed, but not on immediate, tests. Across the experiments, clustering correct recall by meaning increased across the delay selectively for the alternated lists. Our results suggest that thematic (i.e., gist) processes are influential for false recall, especially following a delay, a pattern consistent with fuzzy-trace theory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Washington University, One Brookings Drive, CB 1125, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA. mhuff@wustl.edu.
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Huff
authors.affiliation: Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA.
authors.forename: Jaimie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McNabb
authors.affiliation: Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA.
authors.forename: Keith A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Hutchison
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001245:Association Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D003210:Concept Formation / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology*; D012153:Retention, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: ARC clustering; Blocking; False memory; Lexical ambiguity; Retention interval