True or false memory? Evidence that naïve observers have difficulty identifying false memories of emotional events, especially for audio-only accounts.

Two studies examined whether naïve observers could differentiate between accounts by individuals describing rich true and false memories of emotional and criminal events. To test the potential role of cognitive load on accuracy, observers were either provided regular videos, muted videos, or audio-only accounts. In all video conditions participants only scored minimally different from the level of chance at identifying false memories. In the audio-only condition, accuracy was significantly impaired. Comparative evaluations were overall less accurate than absolute judgments, and self-reported cues used to make evaluations proved uninformative. Implications for memory researchers and legal scholars are discussed.