Abstract

Research that explores ways to reduce memory illusions is helpful for people of all ages. However, this research may be most beneficial for older adults, as they are more likely to experience memory illusions when compared to younger adults. Memory illusions vary depending on presentation type and age, where images that accompany word lists may lead to a reduction in memory illusions. Additionally, increased contextual detail could be effective in reducing memory illusions for older adults. To test this, we employed the Deese–Roediger–McDermott (DRM) paradigm and measured recall of list items across four presentation types. Older participants (59-81 years old) and younger participants (18-35 years old) were randomly assigned to one of four groups: an audio-only group, an audio with text group, an audio with low-context image group, or an audio with high-context image group. Results indicated a main effect of presentation type where participants presented with images with high contextual detail had fewer memory illusions than participants in the text condition. However, contrary to our predictions there was no main effect of age and no interaction between age and presentation type. We conducted a second experiment and did not find an effect of perceptual detail on memory illusions. These findings highlight the importance of presentation modality at the encoding phase on memory illusions within the DRM paradigm regardless of age. 

Keywords

Healthy Aging, Memory, Memory Illusions, Older Adults

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