Attentional Focused On False Memories Of Action Performance From Observations

The present study applied two experiments to explore whether attentional focus play parts in false memories of action performance from observation as well as to analyze its combined processing mechanism.Experiment 1 employed(encoding of action statements,Phase 1: performed vs.read vs.not presented)× 2(observation,Phase 2: observed vs.not observed)× 2(observation group,Phase 2: action focus vs.face focus),to investigate the influence of attentional focus in false memories of action performance from observation.The findings showed that attentional focus on action has bigger observation effect than attentional focus on face.The results in experiment 1 was limited by item familiarity.Based on this conclusion,experiment 2 used(encoding of action statements,Phase 1: performed vs.read vs.not presented)× 2(observation,Phase 2: observed vs.not observed)×2 item familiarity(familiar vs.unfamiliar).When attentional focus on action comparing items with different familiarities,the result showed that there was significant observation effect in familiar group,consistent with result of experiment 1.But there was still found observation effect in unfamiliar group,and the effect was lower than the result in experiment 1.Generally speaking,just observing others performing actions,when attentional focus on action there was observation effect,and it was still found in unfamiliar group.The findings showed there was rationality in Source–Monitoring Framework Theory,Familiarity–Attribution Theory and Motor Simulation Theory.And by controlling the familiarity of experimental materials we got the results that familiarity had influence in false memories of action performance from observation.As a result,the studies in this field should pay much attention to the effect of item familiarity and attentions in false action memories.