Research into the impact of our emotions on memory is certainly a very fascinating area of study. Some argue that emotions can interfere with the flow of thought and blur memory, especially the more intricate details.
However, research by dedicated researchers at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology (Urbana, Illinois) reveals evidence to the contrary, showing that emotions frame our memory, allowing individuals to capture contextual details.
The complex interaction between emotions and memory
In a study published in 2020, researchers at Columbia University set out to record neuronal activity in the hippocampus, the area of the brain that registers fear, when they subjected rats to frightening environments. The researchers observed the transmission of neural signals from the hippocampus to the amygdala, which was expected. However, the surprise came when the rat remembered this memory because the firing of neurons in the respective brain regions was synchronized.
Researchers say that synchrony is essential for consolidating the memory of fear and that the stronger the synchrony, the more powerful the memory. This study (among others) demonstrates the important role emotions play in recording and recalling memories.
Emotions and remembering contextual details
The research presented in this article focuses on three related studies investigating the impact of emotions on memory and attention. Researchers have sought to understand the influence of emotions on attention, particularly in emotional circumstances where individuals tend to focus on important events and ignore peripheral details.
To do this, the researchers integrated behavioral, attention and neurological imaging data. During these emotional experiences, they tracked participants’ eye movements using a webcam and monitored their brain activity and attention focus using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
According to research, emotions improve memory. The fMRI images revealed greater interaction between areas of the brain responsible for recalling and processing emotions. This finding refutes conventional wisdom and highlights how emotional involvement can improve context awareness when recalling memories.
The results of the study have important ramifications for improving well-being and treating disease such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is linked to the decontextualization of memory. By developing techniques that help recontextualize memory, the study could provide the basis for treatment that helps reduce triggers associated with trauma.
Furthermore, by encouraging focus on central and peripheral information, this knowledge has broader applications for improving memory, particularly in older adults. This strategy, which highlights that a mindset focused on memorization can improve memory even under stressful conditions, can help minimize age-related memory loss.
Article reference:
Bogdan, P. C., Dolcos, F., Katsumi, Y., et al. Reconciling opposing effects of emotion on relational memory: Behavioral, eye-tracking, and brain imaging investigations (2024) Journal of Experimental Psychology: General
