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Episodic memory placebo: first try

Rizzo, Pietro LU (2021) PSYP01 20211
Department of Psychology
Abstract
Literature shows that it is possible to induce placebo effects through classical conditioning. Literature also offers first evidence of a semantic memory retrieval enhancement effect elicited through a manipulation of expectancy, which may or may not fit the name of semantic memory retrieval placebo. The study here reported sought to discover whether a similar effect could be produced for episodic memory via classical conditioning. To that end, an experiment following a within-participant design was devised, wherein participants would hear pairs of words and recall them in a second moment: a baseline performance would be collected in one condition; in another (‘Acquisition’) a subliminal speech hint would sometimes be given, always coupled... (More)
Literature shows that it is possible to induce placebo effects through classical conditioning. Literature also offers first evidence of a semantic memory retrieval enhancement effect elicited through a manipulation of expectancy, which may or may not fit the name of semantic memory retrieval placebo. The study here reported sought to discover whether a similar effect could be produced for episodic memory via classical conditioning. To that end, an experiment following a within-participant design was devised, wherein participants would hear pairs of words and recall them in a second moment: a baseline performance would be collected in one condition; in another (‘Acquisition’) a subliminal speech hint would sometimes be given, always coupled with a subliminal speech prime; in a later condition that (conditioned) speech prime would still present itself, but no hint would be given. For the semantic memory retrieval placebo to be found, the number of correctly recalled word pairs in that last condition should have been significantly higher than baseline; this hypothesis was itself conditional on the subliminal hint producing a significant increase in recall performance. A convenience sample (N = 21) participated in the study online. The experiment came out inconclusive due to a failure of the experimental manipulation. Nevertheless, the data collected offers several insights in participants’ behaviour and experience, forming a known base from which an improved version of the experiment may be developed. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Rizzo, Pietro LU
supervisor
organization
course
PSYP01 20211
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
classical conditioning, cognitive placebo, episodic memory, placebo effects, subliminal speech priming
language
English
id
9100378
date added to LUP
2022-09-19 15:32:40
date last changed
2022-09-19 15:32:40
@misc{9100378,
  abstract     = {{Literature shows that it is possible to induce placebo effects through classical conditioning. Literature also offers first evidence of a semantic memory retrieval enhancement effect elicited through a manipulation of expectancy, which may or may not fit the name of semantic memory retrieval placebo. The study here reported sought to discover whether a similar effect could be produced for episodic memory via classical conditioning. To that end, an experiment following a within-participant design was devised, wherein participants would hear pairs of words and recall them in a second moment: a baseline performance would be collected in one condition; in another (‘Acquisition’) a subliminal speech hint would sometimes be given, always coupled with a subliminal speech prime; in a later condition that (conditioned) speech prime would still present itself, but no hint would be given. For the semantic memory retrieval placebo to be found, the number of correctly recalled word pairs in that last condition should have been significantly higher than baseline; this hypothesis was itself conditional on the subliminal hint producing a significant increase in recall performance. A convenience sample (N = 21) participated in the study online. The experiment came out inconclusive due to a failure of the experimental manipulation. Nevertheless, the data collected offers several insights in participants’ behaviour and experience, forming a known base from which an improved version of the experiment may be developed.}},
  author       = {{Rizzo, Pietro}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Episodic memory placebo: first try}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}