Emotion and Memory: The modulation of encoding, consolidation, and retrieval processes as revealed by event-related potentials (ERPs)

摘要

The current data lend support to the notion that memory processes are strongly guided by emotionally significant stimuli and that this is highly adaptive for flexible acting in an environment overloaded by cues. The present results strongly confirm a ?valence evaluation systemu27 proposed by several researchers (in the domain of cognitive neuroscience especially LeDoux, 1996; but see also Gray, 1991; Mogg et al., 2000). According to this framework and with respect to the interaction of emotion and episodic memory, this can be exemplified as follows. The reoccurrence of a past perpetrator (or another threatening object like a snake, as well as something positive) would in a first step be identified quickly without the retrieval of any detailed information. This is sufficient to gain the information that this person (or object) has e.g. been dangerous and allows immediate preparedness (low road memories, LeDoux, 1996). By means of high road memories rich and detailed information would be retrieved in order to evaluate details of the episode in which this person (or object) has been met. The higher the experienced arousal at the first encounter, the better and richer this memory can be reexperienced. In addition, this is modulated by the time between the first and next encounter. The detection and encoding of a positive opportunity seems to result in a memory advantage already after some minutes. The same does apparently not hold true for negative (more survival-significant) stimuli. Instead, they first produce some kind of ?confusionu27 (perhaps by still processing possible other threatening stimuli and thus hinder consolidation in a first step), but later on (after intense consolidation processes terminated successfully) are well accessible. As revealed by the source memory results of the current studies, it appears that it is only adaptive to encode contextual details inherent in the emotional stimuli or important for their meaning.As can be inferred from the electrophysiological correlate results in the current study, all these mechanisms and processes seem to mostly rely on emotion-specific brain regions and neural networks. Their development and existence underlines the adaptive value of our cognitive system.