The positive ramifications of false memories using a perceptual closure task

Henry Otgaar, Mark L. Howe, Johan van Beers, Rick van Hoof, Nout Bronzwaer, Tom Smeets

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

Abstract

The negative features of false memories are frequently at the foreground of false memory research. However, it has become increasingly apparent that false memories also have positive consequences. In two experiments, we examined the positive consequences of false memories. Participants were visually presented with false memory word lists and received a recognition task. In a modified perceptual closure test, participants received degraded visual representations of words (false, true, and unrelated items) that became clearer over time. Participants had to identify them as fast as possible. Identifications based on false memories were significantly faster than those based on true memories and (un)related items. A roughly similar pattern was observed when no recognition task was used and when critical lures were replaced with other items (Experiment 2). Our results indicate that false memories can be beneficial for problem-solving tasks and counter the standard perspective that false memories are inherently negative in nature.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)43-50
JournalJournal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition
Volume4
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015
Externally publishedYes

Fingerprint

Data storage equipment
Experiments

Cite this

Otgaar, Henry ; Howe, Mark L. ; van Beers, Johan ; van Hoof, Rick ; Bronzwaer, Nout ; Smeets, Tom. / The positive ramifications of false memories using a perceptual closure task. In: Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition. 2015 ; Vol. 4, No. 1. pp. 43-50.
@article{cd97e77e383343d9aac46213a0633dc1,
title = "The positive ramifications of false memories using a perceptual closure task",
abstract = "The negative features of false memories are frequently at the foreground of false memory research. However, it has become increasingly apparent that false memories also have positive consequences. In two experiments, we examined the positive consequences of false memories. Participants were visually presented with false memory word lists and received a recognition task. In a modified perceptual closure test, participants received degraded visual representations of words (false, true, and unrelated items) that became clearer over time. Participants had to identify them as fast as possible. Identifications based on false memories were significantly faster than those based on true memories and (un)related items. A roughly similar pattern was observed when no recognition task was used and when critical lures were replaced with other items (Experiment 2). Our results indicate that false memories can be beneficial for problem-solving tasks and counter the standard perspective that false memories are inherently negative in nature.",
author = "Henry Otgaar and Howe, {Mark L.} and {van Beers}, Johan and {van Hoof}, Rick and Nout Bronzwaer and Tom Smeets",
year = "2015",
doi = "0.1016/j.jarmac.2014.12.001",
language = "English",
volume = "4",
pages = "43--50",
journal = "Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition",
issn = "2211-3681",
publisher = "Elsevier",
number = "1",

}

Otgaar, H, Howe, ML, van Beers, J, van Hoof, R, Bronzwaer, N & Smeets, T 2015, 'The positive ramifications of false memories using a perceptual closure task', Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 43-50. https://doi.org/0.1016/j.jarmac.2014.12.001

The positive ramifications of false memories using a perceptual closure task. / Otgaar, Henry; Howe, Mark L.; van Beers, Johan; van Hoof, Rick; Bronzwaer, Nout; Smeets, Tom.

In: Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition, Vol. 4, No. 1, 2015, p. 43-50.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - The positive ramifications of false memories using a perceptual closure task

AU - Otgaar, Henry

AU - Howe, Mark L.

AU - van Beers, Johan

AU - van Hoof, Rick

AU - Bronzwaer, Nout

AU - Smeets, Tom

PY - 2015

Y1 - 2015

N2 - The negative features of false memories are frequently at the foreground of false memory research. However, it has become increasingly apparent that false memories also have positive consequences. In two experiments, we examined the positive consequences of false memories. Participants were visually presented with false memory word lists and received a recognition task. In a modified perceptual closure test, participants received degraded visual representations of words (false, true, and unrelated items) that became clearer over time. Participants had to identify them as fast as possible. Identifications based on false memories were significantly faster than those based on true memories and (un)related items. A roughly similar pattern was observed when no recognition task was used and when critical lures were replaced with other items (Experiment 2). Our results indicate that false memories can be beneficial for problem-solving tasks and counter the standard perspective that false memories are inherently negative in nature.

AB - The negative features of false memories are frequently at the foreground of false memory research. However, it has become increasingly apparent that false memories also have positive consequences. In two experiments, we examined the positive consequences of false memories. Participants were visually presented with false memory word lists and received a recognition task. In a modified perceptual closure test, participants received degraded visual representations of words (false, true, and unrelated items) that became clearer over time. Participants had to identify them as fast as possible. Identifications based on false memories were significantly faster than those based on true memories and (un)related items. A roughly similar pattern was observed when no recognition task was used and when critical lures were replaced with other items (Experiment 2). Our results indicate that false memories can be beneficial for problem-solving tasks and counter the standard perspective that false memories are inherently negative in nature.

U2 - 0.1016/j.jarmac.2014.12.001

DO - 0.1016/j.jarmac.2014.12.001

M3 - Article

VL - 4

SP - 43

EP - 50

JO - Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition

JF - Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition

SN - 2211-3681

IS - 1

ER -

Otgaar H, Howe ML, van Beers J, van Hoof R, Bronzwaer N, Smeets T. The positive ramifications of false memories using a perceptual closure task. Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition. 2015;4(1):43-50. https://doi.org/0.1016/j.jarmac.2014.12.001

Access to Document