The Effect of Mood and Emotions on Memory Retrieval and False Memory

: an Eye-tracking Study

Abstract

Mood and emotion are known to affect memory and false memory. Memory is the product of communication between various neuroanatomical structures, and false memories are a byproduct of non-conscious, automatic memory processes. False memories can range from minor, daily inconveniences, to problematic distortions of recollection during high-stress situations. False memories are more likely to occur when attention and working memory capacity (WMC) are restricted and cognitive demand is high. These factors were assessed in the present study by incorporating online eye-tracking technology, to analyse eye fixation duration and fixation revisits, during a visual recognition memory paradigm. Changes in mood and emotion can affect WMC and attention, impacting the quality of information encoded into, and retrieved from, memory. Increased short-term physiological arousal (regardless of valence) is believed to protect against false memories because of the neurophysiological changes that occur in the brain. It was predicted in the present study that positive and negative mood groups (MGs) would report increased arousal post mood induction (MI) and demonstrate shorter fixation durations and fewer fixation revisits at retrieval, correlating with better memory accuracy compared to the neutral control group. However, there was no significant interaction between recognition of true and false targets and mood groups for memory accuracy. Nevertheless, differences in attention and cognitive load for processing true and false targets were observed between groups, with the positive and negative MGs making faster, more confident decisions without significantly impeding accuracy, compared to the neutral control group, demonstrating improved cognitive function post-MI. Additionally, valence impacted decision-making: the negative MG was more hesitant to correctly accept true targets, while the positive MG was more hesitant to correctly reject false targets. The present study, therefore, utilised a novel storyboard recognition-memory paradigm and remote eye-tracking techniques, to enhance our understanding of the relationship between mood, memory, and false memory, and the underlying cognitive processes affecting this. The current findings have potential applications in legal, educational, and clinical settings.

Date of Award	2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Aberystwyth University
Supervisor	Alexander Taylor (Supervisor) & Victoria Wright (Supervisor)