Effects of Retention Delay and Sleep on Susceptibility to Misinformation and Memory Accuracy

• Hussain Mahdi, Neuroscience, University of Delaware

• F. Sayako Earle, COMMUNICATION SCIENCES & DISORDERS, University of Delaware

Memory allows individuals to recall past experiences and information, yet it is susceptible to distortion. One well-established rationale for memory distortion is the misinformation effect. The misinformation effect occurs when misleading information presented after an event alters memory of that event. Research in this field shows that sleep and post-event misinformation independently affect memory. Yet, there is limited understanding of how the timing of misinformation exposure and retention delays influences the formation of false memories. 

This study investigates how the timing of sleep, exposure to misinformation, and memory retrieval influence susceptibility to misinformation and memory accuracy. Pilot testing is currently being conducted for a study that will ultimately recruit approximately 150 participants. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of six experimental groups, each varying whether misinformation and recall occur immediately, after a stretch of wakefulness, or following sleep. This allows for examining how the timing of these events affects memory performance. Participants will undergo an encoding phase viewing two wordless picture stories, a misinformation phase consisting of yes/no questions containing accurate or subtly misleading details, and a recall phase where they will compare images that are original or aligned with the misleading details. Participants will also complete a sleep diary and the Brief Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (B-PSQI), which will help identify sleep quality and potential sleep issues during the study. 

Pilot testing is evaluating data collection methods, experimental materials, and study procedures before full participant recruitment. Pilot data will be presented at the Summer Symposium.

This research aims to determine how sleep and the timing of post-event information influence memory consolidation and false memory formation. Findings may have practical implications for situations in which accurate memory is critical, such as eyewitness testimony, healthcare, education, and even everyday decisions.