Emotion-Induced Memory Distortions: Insights from Deese-Roediger-McDermott and Misinformation Paradigms—A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

This paper provides a comprehensive review of academic research pertaining to the interaction of emotions and false memory, elucidating the malleable nature of human memories. False memories can have serious effects in forensic and clinical settings, like misremembering events or making up events. In these contexts, the influence of emotions and misinformation can frequently lead to distortions in memory. The presence of intense emotional experiences within these environments, combined with the presence of multiple sources of deceptive information, increases the likelihood of the formation of false memories induced by suggestion. Clinically, understanding these dynamics is crucial for developing therapeutic interventions to mitigate the impact of false memories on individuals' mental health. This review paper delves into the intricate relationship between emotions and false memory, examining two primary paradigms: the Deese-Roediger-McDermott (DRM) and misinformation paradigms. The paper comprehensively synthesizes existing research, revealing that emotions significantly influence the generation and retrieval of false memories. Findings indicate that mood states and emotional content play pivotal roles in shaping memory distortions. In the DRM paradigm, negative mood tends to reduce false memory formation, while positive mood can amplify it. Emotional valence also impacts false recollections, with negative content often associated with increased false memories. In the misinformation paradigm, mood is impacting the confidence attributed to false recollections rather than affecting susceptibility to misinformation. When comparing emotional content, negative events are leading to induce more false memories due to their ease of recalling negative gist and semantic connections. Both the DRM and misinformation paradigms offer valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms of emotional false memory. The paper discusses the implications of these findings for various fields, such as forensic psychology and clinical settings, and highlights the need for further research to elucidate the complex interplay between emotions and memory. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.