This refers to the phenomenon where people incorporate misleading information into their memory after an event. For example, if someone tells you that they saw a nonexistent red car during a traffic accident, you might start remembering seeing it too.
False Memory: A false memory is a fabricated or distorted recollection of an event that did not actually happen. It can include remembering details of a nonexistent item or experience.
Associative Memory: Associative memory involves making connections between different pieces of information. In the context of recalling a nonexistent item, it relates to how our brain links an imagined item with real items on a list.