Event-related potential correlates of false recognitions of faces

In a recognition memory experiment we recorded event-related brain potentia ls (ERPs) following the presentation of faces. We compared correctly classi fied repetitions of faces (hits) with new faces classified as repeated (fal se alarms). Stimulus-related averaging yielded significantly more negative ERPs to false alarms between 750 and 900 ms after onset of stimulus present ation. With response-related averaging we found significantly more negative ERPs to false alarms within the last 100 ms before movement onset. The dif ferential activity was distributed over central and frontal regions and was still present in the period after the response. We interpret the phenomeno n as an electrophysiological manifestation of false recognition as describe d by Schacter et al. [16] (Schacter, D.L., Norman, K.A. and Koutstaal, W., The cognitive neuroscience of constructive memory, Annu. Rev. Psychol., 49 (1998) 289-318). Fa Ise recognition could be the result of a preliminary de cision based on illusionary familiarity and be associated with post-retriev al processing. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.