Misguided multiplication: creating false memories with numbers rather than words

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Memory Studies
• Mathematical Cognition

Background:

• The Deese (1959)/Roediger and McDermott (1995) (DRM) paradigm is a well-established method for inducing false memories using word lists.
• Previous research has primarily focused on semantic associations in word lists to elicit false memories.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether the DRM paradigm can be adapted to induce false memories using mathematical problems.
• To examine the role of numerical neighbors in the creation of false memories for multiplication answers.

Main Methods:

• Constructed DRM-style lists using multiplication problems instead of words.
• Included 'near neighbor' problems related to a target multiplication answer lure in half the lists.
• Administered immediate recognition or recall and recognition tests for the multiplication answers.

Main Results:

• Participants exhibited false memory for the multiplication answer lure, but only when presented with lists containing its numerical neighbors.
• The frequency of false memory varied across different list-lure combinations, mirroring patterns observed in word-based DRM tasks.
• Demonstrated that numerical relationships, like semantic ones, can lead to memory distortions.

Conclusions:

• The DRM paradigm is effective in generating false memories for numerical information, extending beyond verbal stimuli.
• Numerical associations and problem context significantly influence the occurrence of false memories in mathematical tasks.
• These findings contribute to understanding the mechanisms of memory errors in both mathematical and verbal domains.