Memory Recall in Arousing Situations
Author Information
Author(s): Wiswede Daniel, Rüsseler Jascha, Hasselbach Simone, Münte Thomas F
Primary Institution: Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg
Hypothesis
Does emotional context affect memory recall performance?
Conclusion
Memory performance is better for words isolated by color than for those presented with an arousing background.
Supporting Evidence
- Participants recalled 46.5% of the words overall.
- Color condition had a recall rate of 45.3%, while Arousing background had 39.9%.
- Significant differences were found between the Color and Standard conditions.
Takeaway
When trying to remember words, using a different color helps you remember them better than if they are shown with a scary picture in the background.
Methodology
Participants recalled words from lists with one word made distinct by color or an arousing background picture while brain activity was recorded.
Limitations
The study did not include highly arousing but pleasant emotional background pictures.
Participant Demographics
18 right-handed female students aged 20 to 35.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.007
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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