Abstract
Previous recognition memory experiments have demonstrated that the ERPs elicited by correctly recognized test items differ
according to whether the items were encoded in an emotionally arousing or an emotionally neutral context. It is not clear,
however, whether these ERP differences depend on the explicit recognition of the items. We addressed this question in the
present study by contrasting the ERPs elicited by test items encoded in emotionally negative or emotionally neutral study
contexts, according to whether the items were correctly recognized or misclassified as new. Recognized items associated with
emotional rather than neutral contexts elicited an early positive-going and a later negative-going effect that resembled the
effects reported in prior studies. Relative to unrecognized items encoded in neutral contexts, unrecognized items encoded
in emotional contexts elicited a sustained, frontal-maximum, positive-going effect that onset at about 200 ms poststimulus.
This effect may reflect an influence of emotional arousal on the neural correlates of implicit memory.
according to whether the items were encoded in an emotionally arousing or an emotionally neutral context. It is not clear,
however, whether these ERP differences depend on the explicit recognition of the items. We addressed this question in the
present study by contrasting the ERPs elicited by test items encoded in emotionally negative or emotionally neutral study
contexts, according to whether the items were correctly recognized or misclassified as new. Recognized items associated with
emotional rather than neutral contexts elicited an early positive-going and a later negative-going effect that resembled the
effects reported in prior studies. Relative to unrecognized items encoded in neutral contexts, unrecognized items encoded
in emotional contexts elicited a sustained, frontal-maximum, positive-going effect that onset at about 200 ms poststimulus.
This effect may reflect an influence of emotional arousal on the neural correlates of implicit memory.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-13
- DOI 10.3758/s13415-012-0110-1
- Authors
- Antonio Jaeger, Department of Psychology, Washington University, St Louis, MO, USA
- Michael D. Rugg, Center for Vital Longevity and School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA
- Journal Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience
- Online ISSN 1531-135X
- Print ISSN 1530-7026