The distinctions of false and fuzzy memories

Fuzzy-trace theory has recently been used to account for various types of " false memories" (Brainerd & Reyna, 1998, this issue). Although components o f fuzzy-trace theory-in particular the distinction between gist and verbati m traces-overlap with distinctions made in other theories of memory, those in fuzzy-trace theory provide an illuminating account of the conditions und er which semantic associates of previously seen items are erroneously recog nized. However, the theory is less useful in explaining misinformation effe cts. Fuzzy-trace theory's differential success in accounting for these two types of errors follows from one of its central implications: whereas misin formation effects involve false memories, the erroneous recognition of rela ted lures is due to a reliance on authentic, but underspecified, gist memor ies. As its name suggests, fuzzy-trace theory is best at explaining memory errors resulting from fuzzy traces. Consistent with this view, fuzzy-trace theory helps to explain another source of memory errors (verbal overshadowi ng of nonverbal memories) that may also be best characterized as resulting from a reliance on fuzzy, rather than false, memories. (C) 1998 Academic Pr ess.