Emotion and Memory

Memory of emotionally loaded information is mediated by amygdala. The memory of emotional items is better compared to neutral items. We have seen how reward facilitates human as well as animal learning. fMRI studies investigating brain mechanisms underlying reward induced episodic memory enhancement have shown better recall of pictures when monetary reward was anticipated (Adcock et al., 2006; Wittmann et al., 2005) with substantia nigra involved in reward anticipation and memory (Wittmann et al., 2005) and ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens related to memory facilitation by reward anticipation (Adcock et al., 2006). Memory and emotion are also interrelated. In an interesting study Tsukiura and Cabeza (2008) found that face-name associations were stronger for smiling face as compared to neutral expression. Further details pertaining to psychobiology of emotion follows in the next section.

Emotion: Recapitulation

Eysenck has defined emotion as “a complex state involving heightened perception of an object or situation, wide-spread bodily changes, an appraisal of felt attraction or repulsion, and behavior organized toward approach or withdrawal.” It is a multifaceted process involving physiological, behavioural and expressive reactions as well as subjective experiences. Variation in the respiration rate is an example of physiological reactions. Behavioural reaction includes approach-avoidance reactions whereas smiling, frowning and so forth are our expressive reactions. Emotion always has subjective experience.

Emotional processes involve activation of both, the central and peripheral nervous systems. The emotional state gets depicted through face, body and voice and it further triggers certain psychological processes. As human beings we interact with the environment and mostly come forward with appropriate emotional response. An emotional state can be elicited by neuro-chemical, sensorimotor, motivational or cognitive factors.