Canli et. al Flashcards
AIM
show that images with a higher emotional intensity will be better remembered than those with little emotional impact on individuals
SAMPLE
ten right-handed females
why were women chosen as the subjects? (2)
they are more likely to report highly emotional experiences; they show more physiological reactivity in concordance with valence judgements
IV
level of perceived emotional arousal (0-4) given for each scene
DV (2)
fMRI measure of amygdala activation; recall of each scene (remembered, familiar, forgotten)
number of images shown
96
source of images
International Affective Picture Stimulation set
length of time each picture was shown for
2.88s
length of inter-stimulation period between each picture
12.96s
when did stage two take place?
three weeks later
how many pictures were there in stage two?
134 (96 old; 48 foils)
what were the participants asked in stage two of the study?
whether they had remembered or forgotten a picture or if it seemed familiar
what is the role of the amygdala?
responsible for determining which memories are store and which ones are kept
full form of fMRI
Functional Magnetic Resource Imaging
what does an fMRI do?
use MRI technology to measure brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow in different parts of the brain
correlation coefficients for participants’ ratings of emotional intensity and av. ratings of emotional valence
-0.66 and 0.68 respectively (good correlation)
result 1 (amygdala activation)
amygdala activation was significantly correlated with high ratings of individually experienced emotional intensity
average % activation of the amygdala for an image rated 0 (not emotionally intense) [SCAN 6]
-0.25%
average % activation of the amygdala for an image rated 4 (highly emotionally intense) [SCAN 6]
0.75%
result 2 (memory performance)
memory performance was significantly increased for scenes that were rated 3 than scenes that were rated less.
av. % response for scenes rated three (2)
forgotten: 20%
remembered: 40%
av. % response for scenes rated zero (2)
forgotten: est. 45%
remembered: 20%
conclusion 1 (emotional intensity & memory)
there was an association between the perceived emotional intensity of stimuli and amygdala activation with the subsequent memory of that stimuli
conclusion 2 (amygdala activation & memory)
- the amygdala is sensitive to the perceived emotional intensity of visual stimuli; activity in the left amygdala during encoding is predictive of subsequent memory.
STRENGTHS (4)
- 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)
- use of fMRI removed risk of demand characteristics = high validity
- use of fMRI gives highly objective results = v. low risk of observer/experimenter bias
- used of repeated measures meant participants were their own baseline; low risk of participant variables = high validity
WEAKNESSES (2)
- limited sample (only females); results cannot be generalised
- extremely small sample; not representative
INDIVIDUAL VS. SITUATIONAL
which one does this study support + why?
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.
NATURE VS. NURTURE
which one is supported + why?
nature; explains the impact of natural human inheritance on human emotions.
APPLICATIONS (2)
- 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.
- 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.
