Neural signatures underlying individual differences in source monitoring abilities

Abstract

In the present study, source-monitoring processes that are required to distinguish a memory trace of a true event from an internally generated false memory were investigated, using the Deese-Roediger-McDermott paradigm (DRM) to induce false memories, while obtaining fMRI measurements. In order to explore individual differences in memory performance and source monitoring abilities, participants were divided into Low False Memory (LFM) and High False Memory (HFM) groups based on accuracy for critical lure words. Subsequent analyses of the two groups’ behavioural data revealed intrinsic differences in accuracy and response time patterns, while post hoc ROI analyses of the groups’ functional data, consistent with the behavioural findings, revealed significant enhanced activations during recognition for the LFM group compared to the HFM group in areas previously shown to be linked to memory and source monitoring performance. As far as we know, this is the first study to identify possible neural mechanisms underlying individual differences in source monitoring abilities related to false memory susceptibility.