Imitation-inhibition training can reduce the observation-inflation effect in face-to-face scenarios.

Yaqi Yue, Muhammad Imran Afzal, Lijuan Wang

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In one paragraph

Article in Memory & cognition, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Yaqi YueSchool of Psychology, Northeast Normal University, No. 5268 Renmin Street, Changchun, 130024, China.

Muhammad Imran AfzalSchool of Psychology, Northeast Normal University, No. 5268 Renmin Street, Changchun, 130024, China.

Lijuan WangSchool of Psychology, Northeast Normal University, No. 5268 Renmin Street, Changchun, 130024, China. wanglj699@nenu.edu.cn.ORCID 0000-0001-9702-4380

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Observing others performing an action can lead to false memories of self-performance-the observation-inflation effect. Previous research has indicated that this phenomenon might impact the memory of actions in real-world interactions. However, whether direct observation without interaction can lead to observation inflation remains unclear. In Experiment 1, participants passively observed the experimenter performing actions live. In subsequent memory tests, they indeed reported false memories regarding their performances. Building on this, Experiment 2 investigated the causes of the observation-inflation effect induced by "real" actions. Participants underwent imitation-inhibition training with the individuals they observed previously. The results revealed that participants who completed imitation-inhibition training reported fewer false memories in memory tests than those who completed imitation training. These findings suggest that even passive observation of "real" actions can lead to observation inflation, and the simulation of others' actions by individuals may be a potential underlying cause of their occurrence in real-life situations.

Indexed as

Facial RecognitionImitative BehaviorInhibition, PsychologicalMental RecallRepression, PsychologySocial PerceptionAdolescentAdultFemaleHumansMaleYoung AdultAction observationAction simulationFalse memoryObservation-inflation effect

Identifiers

PMID39230648

DOI10.3758/s13421-024-01632-6

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.