The Synchrony/Asynchrony Effect on Eyewitness Memory Performance

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the synchrony/asynhrony effect on eyewitness memory. Forty-four participants (24 evening-types and 20 morning-types) performed, individually, two online sessions: one in the morning and another in the evening. In each session, each participant visualized two videos (crime and neutral scenes), answered questions related to the videos and completed additional questionnaires. In general, the participants’ memory was better in the synchrony when compared to the asynchrony moment. In the crime videos, participants recalled more central details and in the neutral videos more peripherical details. The pattern of results remains similar when controlled by stress, anxiety, and depression.