Canli et al.

Question 1

Define Valence

Answer 1

refers to the* attractiveness* (positive valence), or aversiveness (negative valence) of an event, object or situation

Question 2

Define foil in the Canli study

Answer 2

The unknown or unseen object that is used as a control when testing a pp’s memory

Question 3

What is the psychology investigated in the Canli study?

Answer 3

• fMRI scanning machine
• the amygdala

Question 4

What does an fMRI machine do?

Answer 4

Records blood flow to different parts of the brain during different activation caused by different activites

Question 5

What is the aim of the Canli et al. study?

Answer 5

• To show that highly emotional arousing images will be remembered better than non-emotionally-arousing images
• Central question: is the amygdala sensitive to varying degrees of emotional intensity to external stimuli and wether this enhances memory for said stimuli

Question 6

Hypothesis of the Canli et al. study

Answer 6

(not really specifically stated)
- the more emotionally arousing a stimuli is, the more likely people are to remember it later on

Question 7

Number of participants in the Canli et al. study

Answer 7

10

Question 8

Demographic of the participants in the Canli et al. study

Answer 8

• all right-handed, healthy females

Question 9

Sampling method used in the Canli et al. study

Answer 9

Volunteer

Question 10

Why were women used in the sample for Canli et al?

Answer 10

Because they are thought to be more likely to show stronger emotions to the stimuli, giving more to measure than what men would.

Question 11

fMRI machine in the Canli et al. study

Answer 11

• Took 8 perpindicular slices to the hippocampus, and 11 frames were captured
• BOLD (Blood oxygen level dependant)

Question 12

Describe the images used in the Canli et al. study

Answer 12

• From IAPS stimuli set
• had a valence of 1.17 - (negative) to 5.44 (neutral)
• arousal ranged from 1.97 (tranquil) to 7.63 (highly arousing)

Question 13

What was the correlation between valence and arousal for the IAPS stimuli set?

Answer 13

r = 0.89 (highly correlated)

Question 14

What type of study was Canli et al?

Answer 14

Correlational study

Question 15

Controls in the Canli et al. study

Answer 15

• Bite bar - personalised to every pp’s dental impression
• Whole head coil

Question 16

Experimental design used in Canli et al.

Answer 16

Repeated measures

Question 17

Variables in Canli et al. (3)

Answer 17

• intensity of emotional arousal - measures with a (0-3) 4 point scale
• Measurement of amygdala activation from the fMRI machine
• memory of each scene (1-3)

Question 18

Procedure - fMRI machine and images

Answer 18

• pp instructed to look at screen for entire time
• Images shown for 2.88 seconds, fixation cross for 12.96 seconds - (allowed brain to return to normal)
• during fixation cross, pp to press button on their right hand (0-3)

Question 19

Procedure - Unexpected recognition test

Answer 19

• Pp called back 3 weeks after first session
• Pp viewed all 96 previous images + 48 foils (from same IAPS set)
• Asked wether they remember, or forgotten (1) image
• If remembered - certain (3), or just familiar (2)?

Question 20

Results (Canli)- Individual experience of emotional intensity and normative valence & arousal characteristics

Answer 20

• Correlated well: -0.66 (negative) 0.68 (positive)

Question 21

Results of amygdala activation and emotional intensity ratings

Answer 21

• Highly correlated

Question 22

Results of distribution of emotional intensity across ratings 0-3

Answer 22

• all ratings distributed similarly (22-29%)
• shows that any results seen in how well a scene is remembered cannot be due to statistical power

Question 23

Results on recognition of scenes rated 1-2

Answer 23

• similar distribution of items “forgotten”, “familiar” or “remembered”
• On all, “forgotten” was more accuring than “familiar” or “remembered”

Question 24

Results on recognition for scenes rated 3

Answer 24

• Significantly more “remembered” and “familiar”
• Significantly less “forgotten” - 20% down from around 40%

Question 25

Which side of the amygdala was found responsible for later memory of the stimuli?

Answer 25

The left side

Question 26

Results on the emotional intensity of the image and the ability to recognise it later on

Answer 26

• scenes rated 0-1: low correlation between amygdala activity and later memory
• Scenes rated 3: high correlation between amygdala activity and later memory

Question 27

Conclusions of the Canli et al. Study (2)

Answer 27

• activity of the left amygdala (at the time of seeing the image) is responsible for recall of the image later on
• The more emotionally intense an image is, the more activation of the amygdala, leading to better memory later on

Question 28

Which assumption of the Biological approach does the Canli et al. study apply to?

Answer 28

• Behvaiour, cognition and emtions can be explained in terms of the working of the brain, and the effect of hormones
• Similarities and differences between people can be understood in terms of biological factors, and their interaction with other factors

Question 29

Canli et al: Nature or Nurture?

Answer 29

Nature!

Question 30

Canli et al: Individual or situational?

Answer 30

Individual: everyone’s amygdala reacted, but all in a slightly different way

Question 31

Generalisability in Canli et al.

Answer 31

Negatve:
- only females used
- all healthy
- all right handed (left handed may work differently?)

Positive:
- 10 pp is a decent size for an fMRI study

Question 32

Reliability in Canli et al.

Answer 32

Positive
- standardised: images, ratings, time images shown, questions on familiarity
- Head coil and bite-bar for controls
- fMRI deemed a reliable measuring tool - subjective

Question 33

Application in Canli et al.

Answer 33

• advertisements (eg. ciggarette packets) - more gross images used, the better the target audience is to remember the product

Question 34

Validity in Canli et al.

Answer 34

Positive
- Order of images randomised for all pp
- unexpected recall test
- IAPS - images unlikely to have been seen before
- quantitative data used
- 48 new foils to the 96 original images

Negative:
- Ecological validity - Lab experiment, fMRI machine - Pp layed on their back

Question 35

Ethics in Canli et al.

Answer 35

Positive:
- informed consent given
- Psychological harm taken care of - technician

Negative
- right to withdraw affected
- decpetion used for 3 week follow up
- psychological harm - being made to look at distressful images that Pp were proved to have remembered