Psychoactive drugs and false memory: comparison of dextroamphetamine and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on false recognition
Open accessAbstract
RATIONALE: Several psychoactive drugs are known to influence episodic memory. However, these drugs' effects on false memory, or the tendency to incorrectly remember nonstudied information, remain poorly understood. OBJECTIVES: Here, we examined the effects of two commonly used psychoactive drugs, one with memory-enhancing properties (dextroamphetamine; AMP), and another with memory-impairing properties (Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol; THC), on false memory using the Deese/Roediger-McDermott (DRM) illusion. METHODS: Two parallel studies were conducted in which healthy volunteers received either AMP (0, 10, and 20 mg) or THC (0, 7.5, and 15 mg) in within-subjects, randomized, double-blind designs. Participants studied DRM word lists under the influence of the drugs, and their recognition memory for the studied words was tested 2 days later, under sober conditions. RESULTS: As expected, AMP increased memory of studied words relative to placebo, and THC reduced memory of studied words. Although neither drug significantly affected false memory relative to placebo, AMP increased false memory relative to THC. Across participants, both drugs' effects on true memory were positively correlated with their effects on false memory. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that AMP and THC have opposing effects on true memory, and these effects appear to correspond to similar, albeit more subtle, effects on false memory. These findings are consistent with previous research using the DRM illusion and provide further evidence that psychoactive drugs can affect the encoding processes that ultimately result in the creation of false memories.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Cannabis-intoxicated eyewitnesses and suspects are common.
“cannabis-intoxicated eyewitnesses and suspects are common (4)”
From Hazy memories in the courtroom: A review of alcohol and other drug effects on false memory and suggestibility (2021) · cites this paper as [4]
The Introduction describes THC use as widespread and says its effects on false memory may have social implications. It does not address how often eyewitnesses or suspects are cannabis-intoxicated; searches for eyewitnesses, suspects, and forensic contexts found no such passage. (LLM, conf=0.75)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Williams, J. B. W., & First, M. B. (2013) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.104 · Cited by 109,841 · see citing works
Depth of Processing and the Retention of Words in Episodic Memory
Craik, F. I. M., & Tulving, E. (1975) · Journal of Experimental Psychology: General · doi:10.1037/0096-3445.104.3.268 · Cited by 4,121 · see citing works
Creating false memories: Remembering words not presented in lists.
Roediger, H. L., & McDermott, K. B. (1995) · Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition · doi:10.1037/0278-7393.21.4.803 · Cited by 3,792 · see citing works
On the prediction of occurrence of particular verbal intrusions in immediate recall.
Deese, J. (1959) · Journal of Experimental Psychology · doi:10.1037/h0046671 · Cited by 2,109 · see citing works
Factors that determine false recall: A multiple regression analysis
Roediger, H. L., III, Watson, J. M., McDermott, K. B., & Gallo, D. A. (2001) · Psychonomic Bulletin & Review · doi:10.3758/bf03196177 · Cited by 864 · see citing works
Self-citationFalse memories and fantastic beliefs: 15 years of the DRM illusion
Gallo, D. A. (2010) · Memory & Cognition · doi:10.3758/mc.38.7.833 · Cited by 564 · see citing works
Self-citationReliability, validity, and clinical application of the visual analogue mood scale
Folstein, M. F., & Luria, R. E. (1973) · Psychological Medicine · doi:10.1017/s0033291700054283 · Cited by 514 · see citing works
Curran, V. H., Brignell, C. M., Fletcher, S., Middleton, P. M., & Henry, J. A. (2002) · Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1007/s00213-002-1169-0 · Cited by 370 · see citing works
(2006) · Cited by 336 · see citing works
The Neuropsychology of Memory Illusions: False Recall and Recognition in Amnesic Patients
Schacter, D., Verfaellie, M., & Pradere, D. (1996) · Journal of Memory and Language · doi:10.1006/jmla.1996.0018 · Cited by 291 · see citing works
Utility of subjective‐effects measurements in assessing abuse liability of drugs in humans
Fischman, M. W., & Foltin, R. W. (1991) · British Journal of Addiction · doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.1991.tb01749.x · Cited by 267 · see citing works
D’Souza, D. C., Ranganathan, M., Braley, G., Gueorguieva, R. V., Zimolo, Z., Cooper, T. B., Perry, E. B., & Krystal, J. H. (2008) · Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1038/sj.npp.1301643 · Cited by 263 · see citing works
Roediger, H. L., III (1996) · Journal of Memory and Language · doi:10.1006/jmla.1996.0005 · Cited by 259 · see citing works
Differential subjective effects of D-amphetamine by gender, hormone levels and menstrual cycle phase
White, T. L., Justice, A. J. H., & de Wit, H. (2002) · Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior · doi:10.1016/s0091-3057(02)00818-3 · Cited by 248 · see citing works
Thapar, A., & McDermott, K. B. (2001) · Memory & Cognition · doi:10.3758/bf03196393 · Cited by 225 · see citing works
Comparison of the subjective effects of Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol and marijuana in humans
Wachtel, S. R., ElSohly, M. A., Ross, S. A., AMBRE, J. J., & de Wit, H. (2002) · Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1007/s00213-002-1033-2 · Cited by 210 · see citing works
Effect of amphetamine on long-term retention of verbal material
Soetens, E., Hueting, J., Casaer, S., & D’Hooge, R. (1995) · Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1007/bf02246156 · Cited by 127 · see citing works
Amphetamine enhances human-memory consolidation
Soetens, E., D’Hooge, R., & Hueting, J. E. (1993) · Neuroscience Letters · doi:10.1016/0304-3940(93)90127-7 · Cited by 92 · see citing works
Personality and the Subjective Effects of Acute Amphetamine in Healthy Volunteers
White, T. L., Lott, D. C., & de Wit, H. (2005) · Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1038/sj.npp.1300939 · Cited by 76 · see citing works
Marijuana and memory impairment: Effect on free recall and recognition memory
Miller, L. L., McFarland, D. J., Cornett, T., & Brightwell, D. R. (1977) · Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior · doi:10.1016/0091-3057(77)90191-5 · Cited by 62 · see citing works
Naltrexone does not block the subjective effects of oral Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol in humans
Wachtel, S. R., & de Wit, H. (2000) · Drug and Alcohol Dependence · doi:10.1016/s0376-8716(99)00127-1 · Cited by 56 · see citing works
Personality and gender differences in effects of d-amphetamine on risk taking.
White, T. L., Lejuez, C. W., & de Wit, H. (2007) · Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1037/1064-1297.15.6.599 · Cited by 54 · see citing works
Lorazepam and diazepam impair true, but not false, recognition in healthy volunteers
Huron, C., Servais, C., & Danion, J. (2001) · Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1007/s002130100683 · Cited by 53 · see citing works
Triazolam-amphetamine interaction: dissociation of effects on memory versus arousal
Mintzer, M. Z., & Griffiths, R. R. (2003) · Journal of Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1177/0269881103017001689 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
Leweke, F. M., Kampmann, C., Radwan, M., Dietrich, D. E., Johannes, S., Emrich, H. M., & Münte, T. F. (1998) · Neuropsychobiology · doi:10.1159/000026487 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Miller, L. L., & Cornett, T. (1978) · Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior · doi:10.1016/0091-3057(78)90205-8 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
Verbal memory performance improved via an acute administration of D ‐amphetamine
Zeeuws, I., & Soetens, E. L. L. (2007) · Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental · doi:10.1002/hup.848 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
Effects of D-Amphetamine on Acquisition, Persistence, and Recall
Hurst, P. M., Radlow, R., Chubb, N. C., & Bagley, S. K. (1969) · The American Journal of Psychology · doi:10.2307/1420746 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
Mintzer, M. Z., & Griffiths, R. R. (2007) · Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1007/s00213-007-0726-y · Cited by 32 · see citing works
The effect of alcohol and repetition at encoding on implicit and explicit false memories
Garfinkel, S. N., Dienes, Z. P., & Duka, T. (2006) · Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1007/s00213-006-0480-6 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Acute effects of triazolam on false recognition
Mintzer, M. Z., & Griffiths, R. R. (2000) · Memory & Cognition · doi:10.3758/bf03211836 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Acute dose-effects of scopolamine on false recognition
Mintzer, M. Z., & Griffiths, R. R. (2000) · Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1007/s002130000592 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Alcohol and false recognition: a dose-effect study
Mintzer, M. Z., & Griffiths, R. R. (2001) · Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1007/s002130100893 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Effects of a low dose of alcohol on recollective experience of illusory memory
Milani, R. M., & Curran, H. V. (2000) · Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1007/s002130050008 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Caffeine's Effects on True and False Memory
Capek, S., & Guenther, R. K. (2009) · Psychological Reports · doi:10.2466/pr0.104.3.787-795 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Kloft, L., Monds, L. A., Blokland, A., Ramaekers, J. G., & Otgaar, H. (2021) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.02.012 · Cited by 56 · see citing works
Effects of acute methamphetamine on emotional memory formation in humans: encoding vs consolidation
Ballard, M. E., Weafer, J., Gallo, D. A., & de Wit, H. (2015) · PLOS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0117062 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Self-citation
- Authors
- Ballard, M. E., Gallo, D. A., & de Wit, H.
- Affiliations
- University of Chicago (US)
- Venue
- Psychopharmacology
- Published
- 2011-06-07
- Volume
- 219
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 15-24
- ISSN
- 0033-3158 (ISSN-L)
- 1432-2072
- PMC
- PMC4244903
- OpenAlex
- W2006912344
- Cited by
- 38
- References
- 35
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2024: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 0.97
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by-nc
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Psychopharmacology (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (DA 02812, R01DA002812, T32DA007255)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
- Keywords
- false memory, d-amphetamine, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, recognition memory, episodic memory, memory-enhancing drugs, memory impairment, individual differences in memory
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Dextroamphetamine, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Male, Memory, Psychomotor Performance, Psychotropic Drugs, Dronabinol, Recognition, Psychology, Young Adult
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
