0116 Opposing Effects of Sleep on The Misinformation Effect: Sleep Promotes and Prevents Memory Distortion

Abstract

Abstract Introduction The effect of sleep on false memory is equivocal. In the Deese-Roediger-McDermott illusory memory paradigm, some work shows that sleep increases false recall whereas other work shows that sleep decreases false recognition. Given these ambiguous findings, we sought to investigate the effect of sleep on false memory using the misinformation paradigm. Methods Participants watched a short film depicting a home burglary, received misinformation about the film, and were tested on their memory for the film. The recognition test was given after a 12-hour retention interval that included either sleep or wake. We manipulated the time at which participants received misinformation. Half were given misinformation after encoding (before sleep or wake) and the other half were given misinformation after the retention interval (after sleep or wake). Results There was a main effect of condition on correct recognition; participants in the sleep group showed higher correct recognition than those in the wake group. On false memory, there was a main effect of timing of misinformation and an interaction between condition and timing of misinformation. That is, the effect of sleep on false memory depended on when misinformation was administered. If misinformation was given after the retention interval, false memory tended to be lower after sleep than wake whereas if misinformation was given before the retention interval, false memory tended to be higher after sleep than wake. Conclusion Sleep can both protect against and facilitate memory distortion depending on when misinformation is encountered. These results inform our understanding of consolidation processes. When consolidation acts on true memory alone, it strengthens that memory making it resistant to distortion. Conversely, when misinformation is presented before consolidation, sleep may integrate misinformation into memory for the true event, increasing distortion. This work has important theoretical implications for memory consolidation and important applied implications for interrogation practices. Support N/A