The Effects of Post-Encoding Emotional Arousal on Declarative Memory Restricted; Files Only
Shepardson, Susie (Summer 2024)
Abstract
Emotional events are better remembered than neutral ones, an effect known as the emotional enhancement of memory (EEM). Enhanced consolidation, the process by which initial, fragile memory traces are strengthened after learning, particularly during sleep, is thought to be a primary mechanism underlying the EEM. Studies in non-human animals have shown that post-learning arousal manipulations such as epinephrine injections enhance memory performance for material presented prior to the arousal manipulation. Relatively few studies have examined whether post-encoding emotional arousal also enhances memory, but the results from these few studies have been consistent in finding that presenting negative or positive videos after learning neutral words enhances subsequent memory performance for the words. However, previous studies have not investigated whether memory enhancements from post-encoding emotional arousal generalize to different types of memory and stimuli. In this dissertation, three experiments were conducted to investigate the impact of post-encoding emotional arousal on item memory, associative memory, recollection, familiarity, and affective versus non-affective information. Given that the previous studies reliably identified enhanced memory for individual neutral words, we predicted that the memory enhancement effect would generalize to the types of memory and stimuli assessed in this dissertation. In experiments 1 and 2, participants viewed lists of neutral words and word pairs then either viewed negative, positive, or neutral videos and returned 24 hours later for recognition memory tests. Across both experiments, the post-encoding negative and positive videos had no effect on memory for neutral words or word pairs. In the first two experiments, the words were neutral, and therefore it was unknown whether post-encoding emotional arousal would have different effects if the learned information were also arousing. For the third experiment, participants viewed lists of negative, positive, and neutral words, then viewed negative or neutral videos and returned 24 hours for a recognition memory test. As in the first two experiments, post-encoding emotional arousal had no effect on memory for affective or non-affective words. These results suggest that memory enhancements from post-encoding emotional arousal can only enhance memory in specific circumstances rather than generalizing to different types of memory and experimental paradigms.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION
Memory Consolidation
Modulation of consolidation in rodents
Modulation of consolidation in humans
Post-encoding emotional arousal studies
Effects of post-encoding arousal on item and associative memory
Effects of post-encoding arousal on recollection and familiarity
Post-encoding arousal and arousal congruency
Dissertation Aims
References
CHAPTER 2 THE EFFECTS OF POST-ENCODING EMOTIONAL AROUSAL ON ITEM VS. ASSOCIATIVE MEMORY AND RECOLLECTION VS. FAMILIARITY
Abstract
Experiment 1
Method
Stimuli selection
Procedure
Data Analysis
Results
Discussion
Experiment 2
Introduction
Method
Procedure
Data analysis
Results
Discussion
General Discussion
References
CHAPTER 3 INVESTIGATING THE ROLE OF AFFECTIVE CONGRUENCY BETWEEN ENCODED STIMULI AND POST-ENCODING EMOTIONAL AROUSAL ON SUBSEQUENT MEMORY
Abstract
Method
Stimuli selection
Procedure
Data Analysis
Results
Discussion
References
CHAPTER 4 GENERAL DISCUSSION
Previous experiments that identified memory enhancements from post-encoding emotional arousal
Experiments that did not identify memory enhancement from post-encoding emotional arousal
Reconciling conflicting findings on the effects of post-encoding emotional arousal on memory
Future Directions
Conclusion
References
APPENDIX A
APPENDIX B
APPENDIX C
APPENDIX D
About this Dissertation
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File download under embargo until 21 August 2026 | 2024-06-05 10:05:00 -0400 | File download under embargo until 21 August 2026 |
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