Lauren Cooper

False memories are often studied using the Deese–Roediger–McDermott (DRM) paradigm. This paradigm demonstrates how semantically related word lists can induce erroneous recall or recognition of non-presented critical lures. Emotional DRM lists typically elicit higher false recognition than neutral lists but paradoxically reduce false recall. To examine why, this study examined the retrieval dynamics of false recall for emotional (negative) versus neutral lists using an externalised free recall task. Here, participants list all words that come to mind (inclusion output) before indicating which they believe were studied (recall output). Emotional lists produced fewer critical lures during inclusion, but no difference in the proportion of those lures later labelled as recalled. These results help us to more fully understand the role of retrieval in emotional false memory development and the importance of lure accessibility and error correction as a crucial feature in theoretical explanations of false memories. Implications for theoretical models and differences in recall and recognition dynamics are discussed.

Here, we add to the debate as to whether false recognition of emotional stimuli is more memory-based or more bias-based. Emotional false memory findings using the DRM paradigm have been marked by higher false alarms to negatively arousing compared to neutral critical lure items. Explanation for these findings has mainly focused on false memory-based accounts. However, here we address the question of whether a response bias for emotional stimuli can, at least in part, explain this phenomenon. In Experiment 1, we used a criterion warning, previously shown to increase more conservative responding and reduce false recognition. Experiment 2, we employed a two-alternative-forced choice test, which minimises the role of criterion setting. In both experiments, we compared false alarms to negative and neutral critical lures. We observed a significant decrease in false recognition rates for both negative and neutral critical lures under the conditions of forced choice restriction and criterion warning. However, despite these conditions, negative items, compared to their neutral counterparts, still consistently provoked a higher degree of false recognition. The discussion that follows presents an exploration of both memory-based accounts and criterion-setting explanations for the enhanced emotional false memory finding.

Emotional false memory findings using the DRM paradigm have been marked by higher false alarms to negatively arousing compared to neutral critical lure items. Explanations for these findings have mainly focused on false memory-based accounts. However, here we address the question of whether a response bias for emotional stimuli can, at least in part, explain this phenomenon. Participants viewed both neutral and negative arousing DRM lists and completed a recognition test in speeded or self-paced conditions. Speeded test reduces the opportunity to adjust response bias. Analysis showed no significant difference in false recognition across critical lure types for the speeded condition, but false recognition was higher for negative compared to neutral critical lures in the self-paced condition. We argue that when retrieval does not allow for shifts in response criteria, false alarms to negative emotional critical lures appear more similar to neutral equivalents. The discussion explores memory-based and criterion-shift explanations for the enhanced emotional false memory finding.