The effect of emotional arousal and valence on the delayed recall of neutral images
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1
La Trobe University, Australia
The ability to recall events and information, and the possession of a well endowed memory, are important aspects of an individual’s mental functioning. It is known that emotionally charged material, pleasant or unpleasant, is more likely to be recalled than neutral material. Research has shown support for this, and has demonstrated that emotional arousal and valence, both positive and negative, can alter the encoding and retrieval phases of memory. If the material to be remembered is non-stimulating, exposure to this information does not elicit emotional arousal within the individual; as a result, this material is harder to recall later and may be forgotten. A study was designed to investigate the effect of emotional valence and arousal on the recall of neutral images. Emotionally laden video clips (positive, negative and neutral) were used to manipulate participants’ arousal and valence; neutral images were then shown to participants, who were asked to remember these. Memory was measured by immediate and delayed recall of these neutral images. Immediate recall was excellent for each of the experimental groups. Delayed recall of the images was poorer than immediate recall and no group differences were detected. Total recognition scores however, indicated a clear trend with higher scores for participants whose emotional valence and arousal was positively or negatively altered compared to controls. Future studies should utilize a combination of emotionally laden and neutral images in order to maintain enhanced emotional valence and arousal for a longer period of time, and then measure the delayed recall of neutral images.
Keywords:
Memory,
Delayed Recall,
Valence,
Arousal,
Neutral Images
Conference:
ACNS-2012 Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 29 Nov - 2 Dec, 2012.
Presentation Type:
Poster Presentation
Topic:
Memory
Citation:
Boglis
JL,
Schachte
LC and
Hazi
A
(2012). The effect of emotional arousal and valence on the delayed recall of neutral images.
Conference Abstract:
ACNS-2012 Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Conference.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2012.208.00125
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Received:
14 Oct 2012;
Published Online:
17 Nov 2012.
*
Correspondence:
Miss. Jessica L Boglis, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, jessiebog@hotmail.com
Ms. Leslie C Schachte, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, l.schachte@latrobe.edu.au
Mrs. Agnes Hazi, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, a.hazi@latrobe.edu.au