An illusion of memory: False recognition influenced by unconscious perception.

TLDR

Unconscious influences on attribution processes are relevant to memory judgments. The study examined whether participants could correctly judge if test words had been previously presented. Participants studied a long word list, then performed a recognition test where a word preceded most test items. Unconscious perception produced a memory illusion, with context words increasing false recognition when participants were unaware but decreasing it when they were aware.

Abstract

The results of two experiments showed that an illusion of memory can be produced by unconscious perception. In a first phase of those experiments, a long list of words was presented for study. For the test of recognition memory given in the second phase of each experiment, presentation of a word preceded that of most recognition test words. Ss were to judge whether or not the test words had been presented during the earlier study phase of the experiment. Effects of a context word on this recognition memory decision were opposite when Ss were aware vs. unaware of its presentation. For example, as compared to a condition in which no context word was presented, the probability of false recognition was increased when Ss were unaware but decreased when Ss were aware of the presentation of a context word that matched the recognition test word. Results are discussed in terms of unconscious influences on an attribution process.