Emotion in Learning & Memory

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Questions and Answers

Which set of phenomena does emotion consist of?

Physiological responses, overt behaviors, and conscious feelings (correct)

Physiological responses, behaviors, and cognitive appraisal

Physiological responses, instinctual behaviors, and subconscious feelings

Physiological responses, habitual behaviors, and emotional intelligence

How are different emotions organized according to the two dimensions of affective valence and arousal?

Depressed is high arousal, positive valence.

Relaxed is high arousal, negative valence.

Angry is high arousal, negative valence. (correct)

Excited is low arousal, negative valence.

What physiological response is associated with the fight or flight response?

Decreased blood flow

Increased appetite

Increased rate of respiration (correct)

Decreased heart rate

Which of the following best describes cognitive appraisal?

The subjective interpretation of a stimulus in relation to one's well-being Signup and view all the answers

Which statement regarding reflexive fear responses is correct?

They can occur in response to spontaneous stimuli. Signup and view all the answers

What is the concept of cognitive reappraisal?

Changing one's interpretation of an arousing event Signup and view all the answers

What does the function of emotion primarily relate to?

Preparing the body to respond to affective situations Signup and view all the answers

Which example illustrates a conditioned emotional response?

Avoiding a specific sound due to a past negative experience Signup and view all the answers

What is one benefit of consciously experiencing emotions?

It helps us reason about causes of our emotional responses. Signup and view all the answers

How does emotion influence memory for events experienced?

Emotion enhances episodic memory compared to neutral events. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by mood congruent memory?

Memories retrieved align with the emotional state in which they were encoded. Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'weapons focus' effect in eyewitness testimony?

Witnesses focus more on the weapon at the expense of other details. Signup and view all the answers

What role do emotional memories play in people's lives?

They can be recalled with vivid detail, often akin to reliving the event. Signup and view all the answers

How does emotional arousal affect attention to details in events?

It enhances memory for central emotional details but reduces memory for peripheral details. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of memory does emotion serve as in recalling events?

It serves as a contextual cue for retrieval. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is true regarding the comparison of emotional and neutral stimuli memory retention?

Emotional stimuli generally lead to improved memory retention. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary mechanism through which emotions impact memory encoding and retrieval?

Emotions guide the way details of an experience are encoded and retrieved. Signup and view all the answers

What was the main purpose of the study conducted in the Boston area after the marathon bombing?

To examine the development of PTSD symptoms post-trauma Signup and view all the answers

What correlation was found in the study regarding the amygdala?

Amygdala responses prior to the event were linked to PTSD symptoms Signup and view all the answers

Which drug therapy was mentioned as potentially reducing the likelihood of developing PTSD?

Propranolol Signup and view all the answers

What does the study suggest about individuals with abnormal amygdala functioning?

They have an increased risk of developing PTSD after trauma. Signup and view all the answers

In what timeframe was propranolol administered to emergency room patients to observe effects on PTSD symptoms?

In the week following the injury Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes a flashbulb memory from other types of memories?

It is specific to the circumstances of learning about an emotional event. Signup and view all the answers

What was one finding in the study that compared flashbulb memory of 9/11 with personal events?

Inconsistencies in flashbulb memories were stable over long periods. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about the role of the amygdala in emotional memory is accurate?

The amygdala modulates the activity of other brain regions for memory encoding. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of flashbulb memories contributes to their perceived importance in personal identity?

They are often linked to collective emotional experiences. Signup and view all the answers

What does the release of stress hormones do in relation to the amygdala and memory?

It enhances the storage of emotional memories in the hippocampus. Signup and view all the answers

In the investigation of flashbulb memories, which method was used to assess the accuracy of these memories over time?

Comparison of self-reported experiences over multiple years. Signup and view all the answers

Which pathway in the amygdala allows for rapid responses to potential threats?

Direct pathway from thalamus to lateral nucleus. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misconception regarding the accuracy of flashbulb memories?

People are very confident about their accuracy despite inconsistencies. Signup and view all the answers

What type of memory does the amygdala NOT store directly?

Content of emotional memories. Signup and view all the answers

How does the accuracy of event memory change over time compared to flashbulb memory?

Event memory improves while flashbulb memory declines. Signup and view all the answers

What effect do lesions of the amygdala have on memory enhancement for emotional stimuli?

They block emotional enhancements of memory. Signup and view all the answers

In healthy individuals, how is amygdala activation related to memory?

It is correlated with perceived arousal and subsequent memory. Signup and view all the answers

What role does propranolol play in studies of emotional memory?

It blocks the effect of stress hormones on the amygdala. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about PTSD and the amygdala is accurate?

PTSD is linked to greater responsivity of the amygdala. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the normal reaction to trauma in contrast to PTSD?

PTSD includes abnormally persistent symptoms. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of emotional stimuli affects memory performance in healthy controls?

Higher memory performance for emotional over neutral stimuli. Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is NOT associated with an enhanced response in the amygdala?

Intact hippocampal function. Signup and view all the answers

What neurobiological findings are associated with PTSD development?

Smaller hippocampal volume. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Emotion in L&M

Emotion is a cluster of physiological responses, behaviors, and feelings in reaction to a situation
Emotions can be categorized by valence (positive/negative) and arousal (high/low)
Examples of high arousal, positive valence: excited
Examples of high arousal, negative valence: angry
Examples of low arousal, negative valence: depressed
Examples of low arousal, positive valence: relaxed
Neutral, low arousal: boredom
Negative, high arousal: fear
Physiological responses (e.g., increased blood flow, respiration, release of adrenaline) prepare the body for a threat
Reflexive and conditioned emotional responses (e.g., fear response to lightning or aversive conditioned events).
Our emotional experience depends on appraisal (subjective interpretation of a situation).
Different emotional states can have similar physiological responses.
Cognitive reappraisal involves changing the interpretation of a situation or event.
Emotion affects memory encoding and retrieval; emotionally arousing events are remembered more vividly than neutral events.

Function of Emotion

Physiological responses to emotions help prepare organisms to adapt to threats and rewards.
Emotion allows for reasoning about causes of responses, aiding in self-regulation.
Emotional states help in perceiving and remembering biologically- or personally-relevant information.
Sharing emotions allows people to understand other's behavior.

Emotion and Memory

Emotional experiences are encoded in memory, resulting in vivid recall.
Emotional events are remembered better than neutral ones.
Memory encoding and retrieval are affected by emotional states.
Mood-congruent memory (current mood can serve as cue for similar events).
Emotionally arousing events are remembered better than non-arousing events, but this is true for central details, not peripheral ones.

Flashbulb Memories

Flashbulb memory is remembering the circumstances surrounding a highly emotional public event.
Flashbulb memories are not necessarily accurate records of details but are a special type of episodic memory.
Not semantic knowledge.
It is how someone first heard of it, usually an emotional experience.

PTSD

PTSD is characterized by persistent stress and avoidance stemming from a traumatic experience.
Not all people who experience trauma develop PTSD.
Neurobiological markers (e.g., smaller hippocampal volume, heightened amygdala responsivity) may be associated with PTSD.
Amygdala activity associated with emotional stimuli in the year before the event is indicative of potential PTSD later.
Blocking the effect of stress hormones on the amygdala during the week following a traumatic event reduces the likelihood of PTSD development.

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Description

This quiz explores the intricate relationship between emotion and memory. It covers how emotions can be categorized, their physiological responses, and the impact of cognitive appraisal on our emotional experiences. Test your understanding of these concepts and their relevance to learning processes.