Response latencies for false memories: gist-based processes in normal aging

Three experiments have demonstrated that age-related increases in both probability and speed of false recognitions for word lists depended on the use of a gist-based memory strategy. When test conditions promoted a gist strategy, both younger and older participants were as likely to falsely recogniz...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPsychology and aging Vol. 13; no. 2; p. 230
Main Authors Tun, P A, Wingfield, A, Rosen, M J, Blanchard, L
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.06.1998
Subjects
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Aging - physiology
Analysis of Variance
Cross-Sectional Studies
Decision Making - physiology
Discrimination (Psychology) - physiology
Female
Generalization, Stimulus - physiology
Humans
Male
Memory - physiology
Mental Recall - physiology
Middle Aged
Reaction Time - physiology
Semantics
Set (Psychology)
Verbal Learning - physiology
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Summary:Three experiments have demonstrated that age-related increases in both probability and speed of false recognitions for word lists depended on the use of a gist-based memory strategy. When test conditions promoted a gist strategy, both younger and older participants were as likely to falsely recognize a thematically associated lure as to correctly recognize a studied item, and both groups were equally fast in making these decisions. However, when test conditions deemphasized a gist-based strategy, older adults were more likely than younger adults, and faster, to falsely recognize both strong and weakly associated lures. These findings suggest an age-related increase in reliance on gist-based processing that may underlie age differences in false memory.
ISSN:0882-7974
DOI:10.1037/0882-7974.13.2.230