ERIC Number: EJ1468578
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Apr
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0364-0213
EISSN: EISSN-1551-6709
Available Date: 2025-04-14
Social Network Structure Shapes the Formation of True and False Memories at the Collective Level
Tania Valle1,2; Annamaria Krizovenska2; Josué García-Arch2,3; Maria Teresa Bajo4,5; Lluís Fuentemilla2,3,6
Cognitive Science, v49 n4 e70060 2025
Societal structures and memory organization models share network-like features, offering insights into how information spreads and shapes collective memories. In this study, we manipulated the structure of lab-created community networks during a computer-mediated recall task using the Deese-Roediger-McDermott paradigm to test the spreading activation theory of true and false memory formation. We hypothesized that social network structure, whether clustered or not, would influence memory accuracy. Our results showed that clustered networks reinforced true memories by promoting mnemonic convergence, while non-clustered networks led to more false memories by increasing widespread cross-activation. These findings highlight how social network topology impacts memory dynamics and collective knowledge evolution.
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www-wiley-com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Department of Psychology, University of Jaen; 2Department of Cognition, Development and Education Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Barcelona; 3Institute of Neuroscience (UBNeuro), University of Barcelona; 4Mind, Brain and Behaviour Research Center, University of Granada; 5Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Granada; 6Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research