I think this might be the best thread for me to post more research on implanting false memories, albeit it is outside of advertisements and is more geared toward doctored images overall (all italics are mine):
“Several studies have shown that
doctored photographs can implant and alter childhood and adult memories (Wade, Garry, Read, and Lindsay 2002; Garry and Wade 2005; Sacchi, Agnoli, and Loftus 2007). In a study by Wade and colleagues (Wade, Garry, Read, and Lindsay 2002), participants viewed doctored photographs of themselves and a family member taking a hot-air balloon ride, along with photographs of three real events from their childhood. After as few as three interviews 50% of participants reported remembering all or part of the hot-air balloon event. Similar results were reported in Garry and Wade 2005, although the authors did find that
images are not as powerful as narratives in stimulating false memories. Adult memories seem to be equally influenced by doctored images. In a study by Sacchi and colleagues (Sacchi, Agnoli, and Loftus 2007), participants were shown original and doctored photographs of memorable public events
at which they were present (the 1989 Tiananmen Square protest in Beijing, and the 2003 protest in Rome against the Iraq war).
The doctored images, showing either larger crowds or more violence, changed the way in which participants recalled the events. Images real or fake, have a very real and lasting impact.” Deception09.pdf by Hany Farid, Dartmouth College
The reference for the 2007 Sacchi, Agnoli and Loftus study is: APPLIED COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY Appl. Cognit. Psychol. 21: 1005–1022 (2007) Published online in Wiley InterScience (
http://www.interscience.wiley(dot com) DOI: 10.1002/acp.1394
I'm a new member here, so please bear with me as I navigate the correct places to put new information.