An age-related positivity effect in semantic true memory but not false memory

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Neuroscience of Aging
• Social Psychology

Background:

• The positivity effect, where older adults prioritize positive information, is well-established in memory research.
• Limited research has explored the positivity effect within semantic memory, particularly concerning mood influences.
• The Deese-Roediger-McDermott (DRM) paradigm effectively probes semantic memory mechanisms like associative activation and gist extraction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of encoding mood (positive, negative, neutral) on age-related differences in semantic memory.
• To examine how mood impacts true and false recognition in younger and older adults using the DRM paradigm.
• To explore the interplay between age, mood, and memory valence in semantic memory processing.

Main Methods:

• Participants (younger and older adults) underwent mood induction (positive, negative, or neutral).
• Mood-manipulated participants were presented with word lists containing positive, negative, or neutral words.
• True and false recognition memory were assessed using the Deese-Roediger-McDermott (DRM) paradigm.

Main Results:

• Older adults showed higher true recognition for positive over negative words compared to younger adults.
• This positivity effect in true recognition was not observed in false recognition.
• Positive mood induction led to increased false recognition in older adults relative to younger adults, independent of word valence.

Conclusions:

• Findings support the Socioemotional Selectivity Theory and Fuzzy-Trace Theory, highlighting mood's impact on memory.
• Age-related positivity effects are modulated by mood states, particularly influencing false memory formation.
• The study advances understanding of age differences in semantic memory and the role of emotional valence in cognitive processing.