Self and Mother Referential Processing in Phonological False Memory

Abstract

It is well documented that self-referential processing enhances semantic false memory, yet the effect of self-referential processing on phonological false memory remains unclear. The current study used phonological DRM and self-reference paradigms to examine whether phonological false memory was affected by self and mother referential processing. In the current two experiments, we presented participants the Deese–Roediger–McDermott lists together with their own name, his/her mother’s name or “Lu Xun”. The results revealed that true recognition rates were not different between self-reference and mother-reference conditions and both were higher than the other-reference condition; there were no significant differences in false recognition rates among the self-reference, mother-reference and other-reference conditions. These results suggest that there are significant self-reference and mother-reference effects in true memory and no self-reference and mother-reference effects in phonological false memory. The findings are discussed in terms of theories of the self and mother reference effects and phonological false memory.