False memory in bilinguals: Does switching languages increase false memories?

GLORIA MARMOLEJO
Winona State University, Rochester

KRISTEN A. DILIBERTO-MACALUSO
Berry College

JEANETTE ALTARRIBA
University at Albany, State University of New York

People often receive and recount information in different languages. This experiment examined the impact of switching languages on false recall, recognition, and recognition confidence. We presented Spanish–English bilinguals with 10 lists of words associated to a critical nonpresented lure, either in English or in Spanish. Each list was followed by free recall either in English or in Spanish. The final stage was a recognition test in either language. Results showed a higher proportion of veridical and false recall in English, the more dominant language, than in Spanish, the native language. Noncritical intrusions were equivalent in both languages. More importantly, false recall, false recognition, and false recognition confidence were higher across languages than within languages. The results are examined in relation to current research and interpretations of bilingual false memory.