Canli et. al

Question 1

AIM

Answer 1

show that images with a higher emotional intensity will be better remembered than those with little emotional impact on individuals

Question 2

SAMPLE

Answer 2

ten right-handed females

Question 3

why were women chosen as the subjects? (2)

Answer 3

they are more likely to report highly emotional experiences; they show more physiological reactivity in concordance with valence judgements

Question 4

IV

Answer 4

level of perceived emotional arousal (0-4) given for each scene

Question 5

DV (2)

Answer 5

fMRI measure of amygdala activation; recall of each scene (remembered, familiar, forgotten)

Question 6

number of images shown

Answer 6

96

Question 7

source of images

Answer 7

International Affective Picture Stimulation set

Question 8

length of time each picture was shown for

Answer 8

2.88s

Question 9

length of inter-stimulation period between each picture

Answer 9

12.96s

Question 10

when did stage two take place?

Answer 10

three weeks later

Question 11

how many pictures were there in stage two?

Answer 11

134 (96 old; 48 foils)

Question 12

what were the participants asked in stage two of the study?

Answer 12

whether they had remembered or forgotten a picture or if it seemed familiar

Question 13

what is the role of the amygdala?

Answer 13

responsible for determining which memories are store and which ones are kept

Question 14

full form of fMRI

Answer 14

Functional Magnetic Resource Imaging

Question 15

what does an fMRI do?

Answer 15

use MRI technology to measure brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow in different parts of the brain

Question 16

correlation coefficients for participants’ ratings of emotional intensity and av. ratings of emotional valence

Answer 16

-0.66 and 0.68 respectively (good correlation)

Question 17

result 1 (amygdala activation)

Answer 17

amygdala activation was significantly correlated with high ratings of individually experienced emotional intensity

Question 18

average % activation of the amygdala for an image rated 0 (not emotionally intense) [SCAN 6]

Answer 18

-0.25%

Question 19

average % activation of the amygdala for an image rated 4 (highly emotionally intense) [SCAN 6]

Answer 19

0.75%

Question 20

result 2 (memory performance)

Answer 20

memory performance was significantly increased for scenes that were rated 3 than scenes that were rated less.

Question 21

av. % response for scenes rated three (2)

Answer 21

forgotten: 20%
remembered: 40%

Question 22

av. % response for scenes rated zero (2)

Answer 22

forgotten: est. 45%
remembered: 20%

Question 23

conclusion 1 (emotional intensity & memory)

Answer 23

there was an association between the perceived emotional intensity of stimuli and amygdala activation with the subsequent memory of that stimuli

Question 24

conclusion 2 (amygdala activation & memory)

Answer 24

2. the amygdala is sensitive to the perceived emotional intensity of visual stimuli; activity in the left amygdala during encoding is predictive of subsequent memory.

Question 25

STRENGTHS (4)

Answer 25

1. highly standardised procedure; participants given same items to rate; same interstimulus period; same rating scale used. therefore research has high internal validity (fewer confounding variables distorting results)
2. use of fMRI removed risk of demand characteristics = high validity
3. use of fMRI gives highly objective results = v. low risk of observer/experimenter bias
4. used of repeated measures meant participants were their own baseline; low risk of participant variables = high validity

Question 26

WEAKNESSES (2)

Answer 26

1. limited sample (only females); results cannot be generalised
2. extremely small sample; not representative

Question 27

INDIVIDUAL VS. SITUATIONAL

which one does this study support + why?

Answer 27

individual. correlates a person’s amygdala functioning to their experience of emotion and subsequent memory; explains why one person might remember an event better than someone else.

Question 28

NATURE VS. NURTURE

which one is supported + why?

Answer 28

nature; explains the impact of natural human inheritance on human emotions.

Question 29

APPLICATIONS (2)

Answer 29

1. provides a base theory to understand differences and difficulties in emotional experience & memory in people with a damaged amygdala; thus rehabilitation for such individuals can be improved.
2. also provides us with an understanding of negative emotional experiences and subsequent memory of them, which is useful in trauma counselling for patients with PTSD.