Cited by 269Sleep and Wakefulness ResearchMemory Processes and InfluencesMemory and Neural Mechanisms

The role of sleep in false memory formation

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Payne, Jessica D., Schacter, Daniel L., Propper, Ruth E., Huang, Li-Wen, Wamsley, Erin J., Tucker, Matthew A., Walker, Matthew P., Stickgold, Robert·2009·Neurobiology of Learning and Memory

Abstract

Memories are not stored as exact copies of our experiences. As a result, remembering is subject not only to memory failure, but to inaccuracies and distortions as well. Although such distortions are often retained or even enhanced over time, sleep's contribution to the development of false memories is unknown. Here, we report that a night of sleep increases both veridical and false recall in the Deese-Roediger-McDermott (DRM) paradigm, compared to an equivalent period of daytime wakefulness. But while veridical memory deteriorates across both wake and sleep, false memories are preferentially preserved by sleep, actually showing a non-significant improvement. The same selectivity of false over veridical memories was observed in a follow-up nap study. Unlike previous studies implicating deep, slow-wave sleep (SWS) in declarative memory consolidation, here veridical recall correlated with decreased SWS, a finding that was observed in both the overnight and nap studies. These findings lead to two counterintuitive conclusions - that under certain circumstances sleep can promote false memories over veridical ones, and SWS can be associated with impairment rather than facilitation of declarative memory consolidation. While these effects produce memories that are less accurate after sleep, these memories may, in the end, be more useful.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.nlm.2009.03.007

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  • Sleep can support the extraction of an explicit gist memory for word lists that were explicitly encoded before sleep.

    “studies using the Deese, Roediger, McDermott (DRM) false memory paradigm suggest that sleep can support the extraction of an explicit gist memory for the word lists that were explicitly encoded before sleep (Payne et al. 2009; Diekelmann et al. 2010).”

    From System consolidation of memory during sleep (2012) · cites this paper as Payne et al. 2009

    Experiment 1 Results report better recall after sleep of unstudied words representing the lists’ themes, supporting the suggestion that sleep benefits explicit recall of list meaning. But the Experiment 3 Discussion says the results cannot distinguish gist memory from associative activation, or an effect on retrieval from one on consolidation; they do not establish that sleep supports gist extraction specifically. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. [1]Bartlett FC Remembering 1932 Cambridge University Press
  2. [11]Gallo D Associative illusions of memory: Research on fasle memory for related events 2006 Psychology Press New York

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Authors
Payne, J. D., Schacter, D. L., Propper, R. E., Huang, L.-W., Wamsley, E. J., Tucker, M. A., Walker, M. P., & Stickgold, R.
Affiliations
  • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (US)
  • Harvard University (US)
  • Merrimack College (US)
  • University of California, Berkeley (US)
Corresponding author
  • Payne, Jessica D.
  • Stickgold, Robert
Venue
Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2009-10
Volume
92
Issue
3
Pages
327-334
ISSN
1074-7427 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1990095334
Cited by
269
References
61
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 24 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 16
FWCI
7.61
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute of Mental Health (MH-48832, R01MH048832)
  • National Center for Research Resources (M01RR001032)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Sleep and Wakefulness Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
Keywords
sleep, false memory, veridical memory, Deese-Roediger-McDermott paradigm, slow-wave sleep, memory consolidation, declarative memory, memory distortion, NAP, memory accuracy
MeSH terms
Analysis of Variance, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Memory, Neuropsychological Tests, Mental Recall, Sleep, Sleep Stages, Time Factors, Wakefulness, Polysomnography, Young Adult

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