Psychology researchers of Washington University. Shock and recall
Viewing emotional images immediately after taking a test enhances people’s retention of the tested material. Learning is enhanced by the (negative) emotion
Berntsen, Rubin & Talarico
- Memories related to positive emotions are encoded better
* Positive emotions enhance recall of peripheral details
Mood-dependent memory
Info learned in a particular mood is more likely to be recalled in the same mood.
•Content - dependent memory - Godden and Baddeley 1975
•State - dependent memory - Goodwin et al 1969
Christian 1992; Tobias et al 1992
Emotional responses to an event are retained independently from the event itself
Schelach and Nachson 2001
- Auschwitz camp survivors
- Questionnaire - 60%
- Poor face recognition
- clear free recollection - traumatic memories are vividly presented.
- Enhanced recall - repeated rehearsal and elaboration
Wagenaar and Groenweg 1990
- Camp Erica survivors
- Described experiences shortly after liberation, then again decades later
- Major discrepancies. Remembered general details, specific events were distorted.
Safer et al 1998
Slides of a car accident. 4 neutral, 5th - victim lying on the car bonnet.
•Identify original slide - different angles
•21 / 24 - false chose close-up
Eastbrook 1959
Emotional arousal leads to narrowing of attention. Concentration on central details at the expense of peripheral details.
•Tunnel memory
Christianson and Loftus 1987
- Emotional and non-emotional slides
- Write a distinguishing feature
- Emotional - better recall of written details
Wagenaar 1986
Diary of the events over 6 years. Rated events for importance, emotion and pleasantness.
•Able to recall peasant events better than unpleasant or neutral
Christianson and Hubinette 1993
- Memories of witnesses to post office robberies
- Interviewed 5-15 months after, compared to original police reports.
- Central details consistent over time, circumstantial details - inconsistent
Christianson and Loftus 1990
- Describe most traumatic memory and rate for clarity and type of info.
- Central details- increased with emotionality. No change to peripheral details
Conway et al 1994
FM for Thatcher resignation increased with emotionality. Emotional arousal enhances memory
Clifford and Hollin 1981
- Staged video- violent and non-violent
* Violent version - less able to remember details of the event or recognise the man
LeDoux 1995
Individuals with damage to amygdala unable to recognise expressions of fear
Ekman 1984
6 basic emotions: Sadness Joy Surprise Fear Anger Disgust
