Are Intrusive Memories for False Event-Related Details Possible? A Study on Traumatic Event Memories Over Time

Being exposed to a traumatic event can engender repetitive, distressing, and interfering memories, also called intrusive memories. In addition, over time, people sometimes recall additional and new details of the traumatic experience. In the current study, we examined whether people could report intrusive memories for false details of a traumatic event. Participants (N = 39) completed nine study sessions. In the first session, they watched a video of a traumatic event (i.e., sexual assault) and performed a recognition task. From the second session to the eighth session, each day, participants reported their intrusive memories for the event by replying to some questions related to true and false event-related details. In the final session, we asked them to complete again the same recognition task from the first session. People reported having intrusive memories for false event-related details. These memories did not statistically differ in terms of vividness and distress as compared with intrusive memories for true details. However, overall, the reporting of both intrusive memories for true and false details decreased over time and did not influence the voluntary recall of the traumatic event. These findings are important for theoretical insights on the phenomenon of intrusive memories and the memory amplification effect.