Can illustrating updated information help prevent the activation of outdated information?

Abstract Research has shown that outdated information can influence reading processes, even if it is no longer true or relevant in the current context. In two online experiments, we investigated whether illustrating the updated information reduces the activation of outdated information. Participants read short texts in which initial information was later updated. We varied within-participants whether the updated information was accompanied by an illustration or not. After a background section, participants read a target sentence referring to the updated information. We measured response times to verification statements related to the outdated information, presented either before or after the target sentence. If outdated information is activated during reading the target sentence, participants should respond faster to related statements after the target sentence than before. If illustrating the updated information reduces the activation of the outdated information, this effect should diminish with the presentation of illustrations. However, contrary to our expectations, no such effect was observed: the illustrations had no impact on the activation of outdated information, neither in Experiment 1 ( N = 322), where the updated information was presented in a straightforward manner, nor in Experiment 2 ( N = 357), where it was additionally supported by causal explanations. Instead, in both experiments, we found that participants responded faster to the verification statements after the target sentence than before it, regardless of whether the updated information was illustrated. Hence, it appears that illustrating the updated information is not an effective way to prevent the activation of outdated information.