Dual task demands and gist-based false recognition of pictures in younger and older adults

In a yes/no recognition paradigm using categorized pictures (Koutstaal & Sc hacter, 1997), older adults show high rates of false recognition of categor y items where many related items are studied; they also show high levels of veridical recognition of targets from such categories (where gist-like mem ory representations might be sufficient) but impaired recognition of uno-of -a-kind items (where item-specific memory may be required). Dual task deman ds at study were used to equate older and younger adults on veridical memor y for one-of-a-kind items, but older adults still showed elevated false rec ognition. When we compared young adults under dual task conditions to a. yo ung control group, dual task performance at study, or at both study-and-tes t, substantially reduced veridical memory bur did not reduce false recognit ion. Dual task demands at test also did not affect false recognition. Gist- based false recognition of pictures is robust to changes in encoding resour ces that exert substantial effects on veridical memory. (C) 2001 Academic P ress.