《Event-Related Potential Correlates of the Retrieval of Emotional and Nonemotional Context》.pdf

Event-Related Potential Correlates of the Retrieval of Emotional and Nonemotional Context Adam P. R. Smith, Raymond J. Dolan, and Michael D. Rugg Abstract In two experiments, we examined event-related potentials later, over left temporo-frontal scalp. In Experiment 2, ‘‘left pa- (ERPs) elicited in an old/new recognition memory test by rietal’’ and ‘‘right frontal’’ ERP effects were elicited by recog- emotionally neutral visual objects that, at encoding, had been nized items that attracted correct source judgments. Additional associated with neutrally, negatively, or positively valenced effects, an early lateral temporal positivity and a late-onset, left- background contexts. In Experiment 2, subjects also judged the sided positivity, were elicited by items studied in emotionally context in which the item had been studied. In Experiment 1, valenced contexts and attracting correct source judgments. To- ‘‘left parietal’’ old/new ERP effects were elicited by correctly gether, the findings indicate that retrieval processing is recognized items. Items encoded in emotional contexts, but influenced by the emotional valence of the context in which not those studied in neutral contexts, elicited additional effects an item is encoded, regardless of whether contextual infor- early in the recording epoch over lateral temporal scalp and, mation is task relevant. INTRODUCTION to interpret, in that it is unclear whether they indicate Memory is often enhanced for events or items that are emotion modulated the initial retrieval of information emotionally significant (for a review, see Christianson, from memory or its subsequent processing. This ambi- 1