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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 13, 2026

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Memory-Enhancing Effect of Emotion

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Memory-Enhancing Effect of Emotion

Published on: May 4, 2011

Working memory load attenuates emotional enhancement in recognition memory.

Ewa A Miendlarzewska¹, Gijs van Elswijk, Carlo V Cannistraci

¹Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, Centre Médical Universitaire, University of Geneva Geneva, Switzerland.

Frontiers in Psychology

|March 22, 2013

Summary

Working memory load can reduce memory for emotional images, especially under threat. High cognitive load during exposure prevents the usual enhancement of emotional memory.

Keywords:

cognitive load distraction emotional enhancement of memory negative emotions working memory

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Area of Science:

Cognitive psychology
Neuroscience
Memory research

Background:

Emotionally arousing stimuli are better remembered than neutral stimuli.
This negativity bias is amplified under threat conditions.
The impact of cognitive load on emotional memory is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate if working memory (WM) load can attenuate incidental memory for emotional images.
To examine the interaction between threat-induced anxiety, WM load, and emotional memory.
To determine the effect of WM load on the negativity bias in memory.

Main Methods:

Two groups of participants performed the N-back task under low and high working memory load conditions.
One group experienced anxiety induction via a threat of shock paradigm.
Incidental emotional distractor images were presented during the task, followed by a recognition memory test.

Main Results:

Low working memory load enhanced recognition of negative emotional images in both groups.
High working memory load attenuated this enhancement, with performance on neutral items unaffected.
Anxiety induction did not alter the effect of working memory load on emotional memory.

Conclusions:

Working memory load at the time of encoding can significantly reduce immediate emotional memory enhancement.
This effect occurs regardless of threat-induced anxiety levels.
Cognitive load is a critical factor modulating the memory benefits of emotional stimuli.