Memory and suggestibility in older adults: Live event participation and repeated interview

One hundred and thirteen young (mean age: 20.2 years) and older adults (mean age: 76.4 years) participated in an event that entailed various relaxation techniques, such as a body massage and aromatherapy. On two separate occasions several weeks following participation, half of each group was given misleading information about certain aspects of the event, including suggestions that they had been massaged on parts of their body which had not been touched. Results showed that older adults were disproportionately influenced by the presentation of erroneous suggestions. These findings add to the small but growing body of knowledge about the vulnerability of older eyewitnesses. Copyright (C) 2004 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.