The effect of positively arousing images on Declarative Memory

Abstract

Declarative memory, that is, the recall of conscious memories from long-term memory, can involve either details of a previous experience (episodic memory) or general knowledge about the world (semantic memory). Research shows that episodic memory is enhanced when the level of emotional arousal elicited by a stimulus is sufficient to engage the amygdala, regardless of the positive/negative nature (valence) of the emotion. However, studies on the effect of emotional arousal on semantic memory are very limited and inconsistent. The present study examined the simultaneous effect of high positive arousal on episodic and semantic recall in 47 young Greek adults. Seven high-arousal positive images and seven low-arousal neutral images were used. Each image was paired with one episodic and one semantic question. Participants were asked to answer these with “true/false/don’t know” in a computer program that recorded the precise reaction times of correct responses. The mean response times were analyzed using a 2×2 factorial repeated-measures ANOVA, revealing a significant main effect of Memory (p<0.001), but not of Arousal (p=0.682) or their interaction (p=0.554). The results are interpreted, among other frameworks, through the “modulated-consolidation model” and the “emotional-binding model” for episodic memory, and the “affect-as-information” and “Mood-and-General-Knowledge” hypotheses for semantic recall. This research contributes to understanding how positive arousal interacts with different aspects of memory, which is considered important at both clinical and educational levels.