HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kensinger, E. A. Articles by Schacter, D. L. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Kensinger, E. A. Articles by Schacter, D. L.

How Negative Emotion Enhances the Visual Specificity of a Memory

¹ Boston College, ² Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, ³ Harvard University

Reprint requests should be sent to Elizabeth A. Kensinger, McGuinn Hall, Room 510, 140 Commonwealth Ave., Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, or via e-mail: Elizabeth.kensinger{at}bc.edu.

Some studies have suggested that emotion primarily increases memory for "gist," and does not enhance memory for detail. There are, however, some instances in which negative objects (e.g., snake, grenade) are remembered with more visual detail than neutral objects (e.g., barometer, blender). In the present functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study, we examined the encoding processes that lead a person to remember the exact visual details of negative and neutral objects, and to remember which of two decisions were made about the objects (a size decision or an animacy decision). The enhancement in memory for a negative item's visual details appeared to result from enhanced visual processing: The right fusiform gyrus, a region known to be critical for processing exemplar-specific details, showed a greater extent and magnitude of activity during the successful encoding of negative objects. Activity in the right amygdala also corresponded with memory for visual detail, although it did not relate to memory for the task performed with the item. These data provide strong evidence that engagement of some amygdalar regions can correspond with enhanced memory for certain types of details, but does not ensure successful encoding of all contextual details.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. A. Kensinger and D. L. Schacter Neural processes supporting young and older adults' emotional memories. J. Cogn. Neurosci., July 1, 2008; 20(7): 1161 - 1173. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]