Which of the following is a factor that can lead to false memories?

Heavy marijuana use can lead to false memories primarily due to its effects on cognitive processes such as attention, perception, and memory consolidation. Cannabis can impair short-term memory and affect the way information is processed and recalled. The use of marijuana can result in fragmented memories or difficulties in distinguishing between actual events and those that may have been imagined or suggested.

Research indicates that substance use, particularly marijuana, can alter an individual’s experience and perception of events, leading them to create or believe in memories that are not entirely accurate. Such distortions are significant because they highlight how external substances can interfere with our ability to accurately encode and retrieve memories, thus playing a role in the creation of false memories.