Previous studies demonstrated that memory accuracy is affected by the availability of the individual’s cognitive resources. A predominant role in complex cognition has been postulated for executive functions (EF). The aim of the present study was to verify if there are differences in remembering a crime with respect to the individual’s EF availability (i.e., Shifting, Inhibition, and Updating). We showed participants a video of a violent crime. Next, they were requested to imagine to be an eyewitness of the crime and report a testimony as detailed as possible. A subsequent memory test was run after ten days. EF resources were assessed in a third session through three neuropsychological tasks. Findings showed that high EF individuals reported more correct details and fewer memory distortions (i.e., omissions and commissions) than low EF individuals. Our results underline that individual EF resources are implicated in the recalling of an event.

先前的研究表明，记忆的准确性受个人认知资源可用性的影响。假定执行功能（EF）在复杂认知中起主要作用。本研究的目的是验证在记住犯罪方面是否存在与个人EF可用性有关的差异（即转移，抑制和更新）。我们向参与者展示了暴力犯罪的视频。接下来，要求他们想象是犯罪的目击者，并尽可能详尽地举证。十天后运行后续的内存测试。在第三节中，通过三项神经心理学任务评估了EF资源。研究结果表明，与低EF个体相比，高EF个体报告的正确信息更多，记忆失真（即遗漏和佣金）更少。