Psychophysiological correlates of the misinformation effect

The misinformation effect refers to memory impairment that arises after exposure to misleading information (Loftus, 2005, p. 361). The present study focuses on the peripheral psychophysiology of false memories induced in a misleading information paradigm. On the basis of Sokolov's orienting reflex and studies concerning the Concealed Information Test (CIT, Lykken, 1959), the main hypothesis assumes differences between true and false memories in terms of the accompanying autonomic measures. It also is assumed that a cued recall of original information preceding the recollection phase reduces misinformation effects. Seventy-five participants watched a video that included nine randomized details. After a ten-minute retention phase, the subjects read a narrative text. Six out of the nine details were replaced by misleading details. Following this, the participants completed a cued recall task for three of the original items. In a subsequent CIT with truthful answering electrodermal responses, phasic heart rate, respiration, and response behavior were measured. Finally, the level of confidence and source monitoring were assessed. The misinformation effect was replicated with newly developed materials in three recollection tasks. Cued recall had no influence on the misinformation effect. Autonomic measures did not differ between true and false memories in the CIT. Electrodermal responses reflected the subjective importance the participants attributed to details in the source monitoring task. Therefore, electrodermal responses are interpreted as a correlate of subjective remembering in a misinformation paradigm.