Fearful expressions enhance recognition memory: Electrophysiological evidence

Authors: Righi, S., Marzi, T., Toscani, M., Baldassi, S., Ottonello, S. and Viggiano, M.P.

Journal: Acta Psychologica

Volume: 139

Issue: 1

Pages: 7-18

ISSN: 0001-6918

DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2011.09.015

Abstract:

Facial expressions play a key role in affective and social behavior. However, the temporal dynamics of the brain responses to emotional faces remain still unclear, in particular an open question is at what stage of face processing expressions might influence encoding and recognition memory. To try and answer this question we recorded the event-related potentials (ERPs) elicited in an old/new recognition task. A novel aspect of the present design was that whereas faces were presented during the study phase with either a happy, fearful or neutral expression, they were always neutral during the memory retrieval task. The ERP results showed three main findings: An enhanced early fronto-central positivity for faces encoded as fearful, both during the study and the retrieval phase. During encoding subsequent memory (Dm effect) was influenced by emotion. At retrieval the early components P100 and N170 were modulated by the emotional expression of the face at the encoding phase. Finally, the later ERP components related to recognition memory were modulated by the previously encoded facial expressions. Overall, these results suggest that face recognition is modulated by top-down influences from brain areas associated with emotional memory, enhancing encoding and retrieval in particular for fearful emotional expressions. © 2011 Elsevier B.V.

Source: Scopus

Fearful expressions enhance recognition memory: electrophysiological evidence.

Authors: Righi, S., Marzi, T., Toscani, M., Baldassi, S., Ottonello, S. and Viggiano, M.P.

Journal: Acta Psychol (Amst)

Volume: 139

Issue: 1

Pages: 7-18

eISSN: 1873-6297

DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2011.09.015

Abstract:

Facial expressions play a key role in affective and social behavior. However, the temporal dynamics of the brain responses to emotional faces remain still unclear, in particular an open question is at what stage of face processing expressions might influence encoding and recognition memory. To try and answer this question we recorded the event-related potentials (ERPs) elicited in an old/new recognition task. A novel aspect of the present design was that whereas faces were presented during the study phase with either a happy, fearful or neutral expression, they were always neutral during the memory retrieval task. The ERP results showed three main findings: An enhanced early fronto-central positivity for faces encoded as fearful, both during the study and the retrieval phase. During encoding subsequent memory (Dm effect) was influenced by emotion. At retrieval the early components P100 and N170 were modulated by the emotional expression of the face at the encoding phase. Finally, the later ERP components related to recognition memory were modulated by the previously encoded facial expressions. Overall, these results suggest that face recognition is modulated by top-down influences from brain areas associated with emotional memory, enhancing encoding and retrieval in particular for fearful emotional expressions.

Source: PubMed

Fearful expressions enhance recognition memory: Electrophysiological evidence

Authors: Righi, S., Marzi, T., Toscani, M., Baldassi, S., Ottonello, S. and Viggiano, M.P.

Journal: ACTA PSYCHOLOGICA

Volume: 139

Issue: 1

Pages: 7-18

eISSN: 1873-6297

ISSN: 0001-6918

DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2011.09.015

Source: Web of Science (Lite)

Fearful expressions enhance recognition memory: electrophysiological evidence.

Authors: Righi, S., Marzi, T., Toscani, M., Baldassi, S., Ottonello, S. and Viggiano, M.P.

Journal: Acta psychologica

Volume: 139

Issue: 1

Pages: 7-18

eISSN: 1873-6297

ISSN: 0001-6918

DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2011.09.015

Abstract:

Facial expressions play a key role in affective and social behavior. However, the temporal dynamics of the brain responses to emotional faces remain still unclear, in particular an open question is at what stage of face processing expressions might influence encoding and recognition memory. To try and answer this question we recorded the event-related potentials (ERPs) elicited in an old/new recognition task. A novel aspect of the present design was that whereas faces were presented during the study phase with either a happy, fearful or neutral expression, they were always neutral during the memory retrieval task. The ERP results showed three main findings: An enhanced early fronto-central positivity for faces encoded as fearful, both during the study and the retrieval phase. During encoding subsequent memory (Dm effect) was influenced by emotion. At retrieval the early components P100 and N170 were modulated by the emotional expression of the face at the encoding phase. Finally, the later ERP components related to recognition memory were modulated by the previously encoded facial expressions. Overall, these results suggest that face recognition is modulated by top-down influences from brain areas associated with emotional memory, enhancing encoding and retrieval in particular for fearful emotional expressions.

Source: Europe PubMed Central