The Influence of Our Beliefs on Our Memories

• Grant number: 23/15811-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2024
• End date: January 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology - Physiological Psychology
• Principal Investigator: Paulo Sérgio Boggio
• Grantee: Melissa Neves Cardoso Coelho
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie (UPM). Instituto Presbiteriano Mackenzie. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This project will investigate the influence of ideologies on the formation of false memories. The study will address two main aspects of ideologies: the symbolic, related to political and social self-identification expressed through symbols and discourse, and the operational, concerning actions and behaviors motivated by specific political issues. These ideologies affect cognitive processing, influencing perception, attention, behavior, and the formation of memories, both true and false. False memories, defined as erroneously perceived recollections as real, are the central focus of the project. They can be formed spontaneously or through suggestion, influenced by factors such as age, cognitive ability, attention, and familiarity. In the study, we aim to investigate whether they are also influenced by ideological congruence. The significance of this study lies in various phenomena, such as the widespread dissemination of fake news, which has demonstrated the ability to generate false memories, especially in political or public health contexts. We will adapt the Deese-Roediger/McDermott (DRM) paradigm to explore whether ideological beliefs can make individuals more susceptible to forming and consolidating false memories aligned with their worldviews. In addition to behavioral measures, we will use electroencephalography (EEG) to investigate neurobiological markers, focusing on the Old/New Effect component, which aids in distinguishing between true and false memories. The goal is to deepen understanding of the intersection of political ideologies, cognition, and the formation of false memories, thereby contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon of false memory in the context of ideological influences.