Failure to Produce False Memories Through the Stimulus Equivalence Paradigm

Abstract

Abstract Stimulus equivalence has been adopted as a behavioral explanation for false memories. The present study aimed to test false memories using lists compound of equivalent stimuli. 10 undergraduate students learned three 4-member (Classes 1, 2, 3) and three 12-member equivalence classes (Classes 4, 5, 6). A week later these participants performed a recognition test. Participants first saw a study list comprising 10 of the 12 stimuli from Classes 4, 5 and 6. Later, they saw a list comprising all stimuli from study list (targets), the remaining stimuli from the Classes 4, 5 and 6 (critical lures) and nine stimuli from Classes 1, 2 and 3 (non-related lures). Due to the equivalence relation between targets and critical lure, it was expected that the second would be recognize as much as the first, but results indicated critical and non-related lures where equally recognized and at low levels.