Post-learning Stress Reduces the Misinformation Effect: Effects of Psychosocial Stress on Memory Updating

Episodic memory representations can be altered after learning new and related information (for a review: Lee et al., 2017). This characteristic of memory can be viewed as adaptive because it allows encoded memories to be modified and updated with relevant information (Nader and Hardt, 2009; Schacter et al., 2011). However, it can also lead to distortions, causing false memories. One of the most prominent presentations of memory distortion is the misinformation effect, when misleading information presented after an event changes the memory of that original event (Loftus, 2005).

Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology - December 10, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Jonas P. Nitschke, Sonja Chu, Jens C. Pruessner, Jennifer A. Bartz, Signy Sheldon Source Type: research