Implicit false memory: Effects of modality and multiple study presentations on long-lived semantic priming

In the Deese paradigm, studying a list of semantic associates (holiday, ben ch, etc.) produces false explicit memory for a nonpresented lure (vacation) . Here, we examine false memory with implicit retrieval. Experiment 1 teste d memory for lures and matched on-list targets, using stem completion (impl icit) and stem-cued recall (explicit). We replicated McDermott's (1997) fin ding of implicit false memory at a 10-min delay, using better controls for explicit contamination. In Experiment 2, we show that this semantic priming is modality-specific (on the visual test, lure priming was reduced with au ditory study of the semantic associates), consistent with the perceptual na ture of stem completion. In Experiment 3, additional study presentations re duced false memory with explicit. but not implicit, retrieval, consistent w ith suppression of gist-based responses by veridical information only when explicit retrieval is required. Results also dissociate implicit and explic it false memory and demonstrate similarities between false and true memorie s with implicit retrieval. (C) 2000 Academic Press.