Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 26, 2026

Examining the Characteristics of Episodic Memory using Event-related Potentials in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease
Published on: August 30, 2011
Emotional working memory in Alzheimer's disease patients
1Department of Physiological Sciences, Laboratory of Neurosciences and Behavior, Institute of Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil.
Background:
Few studies have assessed whether emotional content affects processes supporting working memory in Alzheimer disease (AD) patients.
Methods:
We assessed 22 AD patients and 40 elderly controls (EC) with a delayed matching and non-matching to sample task (DMST/DNMST), and a spatial-delayed recognition span task (SRST; unique/varied) using emotional stimuli.
Results:
AD patients showed decreased performance on both tasks compared with EC. With regard to the valence of the stimuli, we did not observe significant performance differences between groups in the DMST/DNMST. However, both groups remembered a larger number of negative than positive or neutral pictures on unique SRST.
Conclusion:
The results suggest that AD patients show a relative preservation of working memory for emotional information, particularly for negative stimuli.
Related Concept Videos
Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology
Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ and tau...
Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction
Working Memory
Role of Amygdala in Memory
One of the...
Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory

