Abstract
SummaryRetrieving false information can have serious consequences. Sleep is important for memory, but voluntary sleep curtailment is becoming more rampant. Here, the misinformation paradigm was used to investigate false memory formation after 1 night of total sleep deprivation in healthy young adults (N = 58, mean age ± SD = 22.10 ± 1.60 years; 29 males), and 7 nights of partial sleep deprivation (5 h sleep opportunity) in these young adults and healthy adolescents (N = 54, mean age ± SD = 16.67 ± 1.03 years; 25 males). In both age groups, sleep‐deprived individuals were more likely than well‐rested persons to incorporate misleading post‐event information into their responses during memory retrieval (P < 0.050). These findings reiterate the importance of adequate sleep in optimal cognitive functioning, reveal the vulnerability of adolescents' memory during sleep curtailment, and suggest the need to assess eyewitnesses' sleep history after encountering misleading information.
Highlights
Memories of an event rarely provide a literal record of that experience
Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) scores were similar between the total sleep deprivation (TSD) and partial sleep deprivation (PSD) groups (t36 = 0.63, P = 0.532; t36 = 0.12, P = 0.904; Table 3)
This PSD effect in adolescents was of comparable magnitude to that observed in young adults
Summary
Memories of an event rarely provide a literal record of that experience. Instead, they involve the integration of elements of that episode with prior experience or knowledge. When the memory of a specific episode is confused with prior similar experiences, and/or fails to be distinctly encoded, errors in subsequent memory retrieval can occur. The emergence of such false memories often reminds us of human fallibility, as highlighted by the inconsistencies in recollection of personal events surrounding the Challenger disaster (Neisser and Harsch, 1992). They can have more serious consequences such as wrongful conviction due to inaccurate eyewitness testimony
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
