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Brian vs. Revision3 and the Memory Test!

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009 – running time 11:25
Think you're smart? Wait until you see the surprising results of the Memory test...

Segments

Think you have a good memory? This week, we've got an interactive experiment you can try at home to test your skills... Warning: the results are going to surprise you!

**Warning: do not read forward until after you've completed the experiment**

Did you get any false words? If so, you're not alone. More than 85% of subjects will get at least one false memory out of the two lists, and it's not because you did anything wrong... It turns out that study after study has shown that even when you're sure of a certain memory, the odds are good that you're remembering incorrectly.

In this case, each of the word lists are designed to take advantage of the brain's tendency to "fill in the gaps" when looking at a larger picture. In the first list, 65% of subjects will falsely remember the word "window", and 60% will falsely remember "doctor" in the second list. For your enjoyment, we're also including several alternate lists below, along with the statistical probability they'll remember a false word.

Now, what do you do with this? Anything you want. Just memorize two lists, and start messing with your friends, promising that your memory skills are much better than theirs. Use it as a game to break the ice at parties, or to have something to do with the girls. The first time I tried this experiment, I fell for BOTH false words, and the experience was unbelievable. Have fun!

Memory test setup and 1st test

Brian introduces the memory game and challenges the Revision3 staff

00:39

Play

2nd test, intro to false words

One more test before results are revealed and we find out about false words!

05:29

Play

Tally, explanation, wrap up and winner!

Brian explains the results, finds a winner and wraps up the test

09:07

Play

Materials listed below are taken from: Stadler, M. A., Roediger, H. L. III, & McDermott, K. B. (1999). Norms for word lists that create false memories. Memory & Cognition, 27, 494-500.



Table 1. Thirty-six word lists that create false memories.
Table 2. Lists ranked by probability of false recall of critical lure.
Table 3. Lists ranked by probability of false recognition of critical lure.

Table 1. Thirty-six word lists that create false memories.
 
ANGER mad, fear, hate, rage, temper, fury, ire, wrath, happy, fight, hatred, mean, calm, emotion, enrage
ARMY Navy, soldier, United States, rifle, Air Force, draft, military, Marines, march, infantry, captain, war, uniform, pilot, combat
BLACK white, dark, cat, charred, night, funeral, color, grief, blue, death, ink, bottom, coal, brown, gray
BREAD butter, food, eat, sandwich, rye, jam, milk, flour, jelly, dough, crust, slice, wine, loaf, toast
CAR truck, bus, train, automobile, vehicle, drive, jeep, Ford, race, keys, garage, highway, sedan, van, taxi
CHAIR table, sit, legs, seat, couch, desk, recliner, sofa, wood, cushion, swivel, stool, sitting, rocking, bench
CITY town, crowded, state, capital, streets, subway, country, New York, village, metropolis, big, Chicago, suburb, county, urban
COLD hot, snow, warm, winter, ice, wet, frigid, chilly, heat, weather, freeze, air, shiver, Arctic, frost
CUP mug, saucer, tea, measuring, coaster, lid, handle, coffee, straw, goblet, soup, stein, drink, plastic, sip
DOCTOR nurse, sick, lawyer, medicine, health, hospital, dentist, physician, ill, patient, office, stethoscope, surgeon, clinic, cure
FLAG banner, American, symbol, stars, anthem, stripes, pole, wave, raised, national, checkered, emblem, sign, freedom, pendant
FOOT shoe, hand, toe, kick, sandals, soccer, yard, walk, ankle, arm, boot, inch, sock, knee, mouth
FRUIT apple, vegetable, orange, kiwi, citrus, ripe, pear, banana, berry, cherry, basket, juice, salad, bowl, cocktail
GIRL boy, dolls, female, young, dress, pretty, hair, niece, dance, beautiful, cute, date, aunt, daughter, sister
HIGH low, clouds, up, tall, tower, jump, above, building, noon, cliff, sky, over, airplane, dive, elevate
KING queen, England, crown, prince, George, dictator, palace, throne, chess, rule, subjects, monarch, royal, leader, reign
LION tiger, circus, jungle, tamer, den, cub, Africa, mane, cage, feline, roar, fierce, bears, hunt, pride
MAN woman, husband, uncle, lady, mouse, male, father, strong, friend, beard, person, handsome, muscle, suit, old
MOUNTAIN hill, valley, climb, summit, top, molehill, peak, plain, glacier, goat, bike, climber, range, steep, ski
MUSIC note, sound, piano, sing, radio, band, melody, horn, concert, instrument, symphony, jazz, orchestra, art, rhythm
NEEDLE thread, pin, eye, sewing, sharp, point, prick, thimble, haystack, thorn, hurt, injection, syringe, cloth, knitting
PEN pencil, write, fountain, leak, quill, felt, Bic, scribble, crayon, Cross, tip, marker, red, cap, letter
RIVER water, stream, lake, Mississippi, boat, tide, swim, flow, run, barge, creek, brook, fish, bridge, winding
ROUGH smooth, bumpy, road, tough, sandpaper, jagged, ready, coarse, uneven, riders, rugged, sand, boards, ground, gravel
RUBBER elastic, bounce, gloves, tire, ball, eraser, springy, foam, galoshes, soles, latex, glue, flexible, resilient, stretch
SHIRT blouse, sleeves, pants, tie, button, shorts, iron, polo, collar, vest, pocket, jersey, belt, linen, cuffs
SLEEP bed, rest, awake, tired, dream, wake, snooze, blanket, doze, slumber, snore, nap, peace, yawn, drowsy
SLOW fast, lethargic, stop, listless, snail, cautious, delay, traffic, turtle, hesitant, speed, quick, sluggish, wait, molasses
SMELL nose, breathe, sniff, aroma, hear, see, nostril, whiff, scent, reek, stench, fragrance, perfume, salts, rose
SMOKE cigarette, puff, blaze, billows, pollution, ashes, cigar, chimney, fire, tobacco, stink, pipe, lungs, flames, stain
SOFT hard, light, pillow, plush, loud, cotton, fur, touch, fluffy, feather, furry, downy, kitten, skin, tender
SPIDER web, insect, bug, fright, fly, arachnid, crawl, tarantula, poison, bite, creepy, animal, ugly, feelers, small
SWEET sour, candy, sugar, bitter, good, taste, tooth, nice, honey, soda, chocolate, heart, cake, tart, pie
THIEF steal, robber, crook, burglar, money, cop, bad, rob, jail, gun, villain, crime, bank, bandit, criminal
TRASH garbage, waste, can, refuse, sewage, bag, junk, rubbish, sweep, scraps, pile, dump, landfill, debris, litter
WINDOW door, glass, pane, shade, ledge, sill, house, open, curtain, frame, view, breeze, sash, screen, shutter

Table 2. Lists ranked by probability of false recall of critical lure.
 
WINDOW 65
SLEEP 61
SMELL 60
DOCTOR 60
SWEET 54
CHAIR 54
SMOKE 54
ROUGH 53
NEEDLE 52
ANGER 49
TRASH 49
SOFT 46
CITY 46
CUP 45
COLD 44
MOUNTAIN 42
SLOW 42
RIVER 42
SPIDER 37
FOOT 35
PEN 35
CAR 35
MUSIC 34
BLACK 34
RUBBER 32
GIRL 32
BREAD 31
FLAG 31
SHIRT 27
HIGH  26
ARMY 25
MAN 24
THIEF 23
LION 23
FRUIT 20
KING 10

Table 3. Lists ranked by probability of false recognition of critical lure.
 
WINDOW 84
SMELL 84
COLD 84
ROUGH 83
CUP  82
SOFT 81
SLEEP 80
ANGER 79
SWEET 78
TRASH 78
CHAIR 74
SMOKE 73
HIGH  72
DOCTOR 71
THIEF 70
MOUNTAIN 69
SLOW 69
MUSIC 69
NEEDLE 68
RIVER 67
RUBBER 67
CITY  64
BREAD 64
FOOT  62
MAN 61
FLAG  60
SPIDER 58
GIRL 58
PEN  57
SHIRT 54
ARMY  53
BLACK 49
FRUIT 45
CAR  42
LION  33
KING  27

Table 1. Thirty-six word lists that create false memories.
Table 2. Lists ranked by probability of false recall of critical lure.
Table 3. Lists ranked by probability of false recognition of critical lure.

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