Work

Elevated false recollection of emotional pictures in young and older adults.

Year: 2009

Type: article

Abstract: Current theories predict opposing effects of emotionally arousing information on false memory. If emotion enhances true recollection, then false recollection might be lower for emotional than for neutral pictures. However, if emotion enhances conceptual relatedness, then false recollection might increase for nonstudied but emotionally related pictures. We contrasted these 2 factors in young and older adults, using the International Affective Pictures Systems set (Lang, Bradley, & Cuthbert, 2005). Although both age groups used recollection in our task, false recollection was greatest for emotional pictures, supporting a conceptual relatedness account. Finally, even after accuracy differences were controlled, age was related to high-confidence false recollection of emotional pictures.

Source: Psychology and Aging

DOI: 10.1037/a0017545

Authors: David A. Gallo, Katherine T. Foster, Elizabeth L. Johnson

Institution: University of Chicago

Language: English

Topic: Memory Processes and Influences

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute on Aging

Awards: Metamemory in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease, G8352728596