City Research Online

Abstract

Here we add to the debate as to whether false recognition of emotional stimuli is more memory based or more bias based. Emotional false memory findings using the DRM paradigm have been marked by higher false alarms to negatively arousing compared to neutral critical lure items. Explanation for these findings have mainly focused on false memory-based accounts. However, here we address the question whether a response bias for emotional stimuli can, at least in part, explain this phenomenon. In Experiment 1 we used a criterion warning, previously shown to increase more conservative responding and reduce false recognition. Experiment 2, we employed a two-alternative forced choice test, which minimizes the role of criterion setting. In both experiments we compared false alarms to negative and neutral critical lures. We observed a significant decrease in false recognition rates for both negative and neutral critical lures under the conditions of the forced choice restriction and criterion warning. However, despite these conditions, negative items, compared to their neutral counterparts, still consistently provoked a higher degree of false recognition. The discussion that follows presents an exploration of both memory-based accounts and criterion setting explanations for the enhanced emotional false memory finding.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article to be published by Taylor & Francis in Cognition and Emotion, to be available at: https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/pcem20
Publisher Keywords:	Emotion, False Memory, DRM paradigm, Response Biases
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Departments:	School of Health & Psychological Sciences School of Health & Psychological Sciences > Psychology
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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