The effects of increasing semantic-associate list length on the Deese-Roediger-McDermott false recognition memory: Dual false-memory process in retrieval from sub- and supraspan lists.
In this study, the number of semantic associates in Deese-Roediger-McDermott (DRM) lists was varied from 4 to 14 in a modified Sternberg paradigm. The false alarm (FA) and correct rejection (CR) reaction time (RT)/memory-set size (MSS) functions of critical lures showed a cross-over interaction at approximately MSS 7, suggesting a reversal of the relative dominance between these two responses to the critical lure at this point and also indicating the location of the boundary between the sub- and supraspan MSS. For the subspan lists, FA to critical lures was slower than CR, suggesting a slow, strategic mechanism driving the false memory. Conversely, for the supraspan lists, critical lure FA was faster than its CR, suggesting a spontaneous mechanism driving the false memory. Results of two experiments showed that an automatic, fast, and a slow, controlled process could be error-prone or error-corrective, depending on the length of the DRM memory list. Thus there is a dual retrieval process in false memory as in true memory. The findings can be explained by both the activation/monitoring and the fuzzy-trace theories.
a Department of Psychological Science , University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley , Edinburg , TX, USA.
Jerwen
J
Jou
a Department of Psychological Science , University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley , Edinburg , TX, USA.
Mario L
ML
Arredondo
a Department of Psychological Science , University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley , Edinburg , TX, USA.
Cheng
C
Li
a Department of Psychological Science , University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley , Edinburg , TX, USA.
Eric E
EE
Escamilla
a Department of Psychological Science , University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley , Edinburg , TX, USA.
Richard
R
Zuniga
D001245:Association Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology*; D011582:Psychological Theory; D011930:Reaction Time; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*; D012660:Semantics; D012718:Set, Psychology; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities
Deese–Roediger–McDermott false memory; Dual false-memory process; False-memory Sternberg paradigm; Memory-set size effect; Sub- and supraspan false memory