Document Detail


When fear forms memories: Threat of shock and brain potentials during encoding and recognition.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  22483973     Owner:  NLM     Status:  Publisher    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The anticipation of highly aversive events is associated with measurable defensive activation, and both animal and human research suggests that stress-inducing contexts can facilitate memory. Here, we investigated whether encoding stimuli in the context of anticipating an aversive shock affects recognition memory. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were measured during a recognition test for words that were encoded in a font color that signaled threat or safety. At encoding, cues signaling threat of shock, compared to safety, prompted enhanced P2 and P3 components. Correct recognition of words encoded in the context of threat, compared to safety, was associated with an enhanced old-new ERP difference (500-700msec; centro-parietal), and this difference was most reliable for emotional words. Moreover, larger old-new ERP differences when recognizing emotional words encoded in a threatening context were associated with better recognition, compared to words encoded in safety. Taken together, the data indicate enhanced memory for stimuli encoded in a context in which an aversive event is merely anticipated, which could assist in understanding effects of anxiety and stress on memory processes.
Authors:
Mathias Weymar; Margaret M Bradley; Alfons O Hamm; Peter J Lang
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Publication Detail:
Type:  JOURNAL ARTICLE     Date:  2012-3-8
Journal Detail:
Title:  Cortex; a journal devoted to the study of the nervous system and behavior     Volume:  -     ISSN:  1973-8102     ISO Abbreviation:  -     Publication Date:  2012 Mar 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2012-4-9     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0100725     Medline TA:  Cortex     Country:  -    
Other Details:
Languages:  ENG     Pagination:  -     Citation Subset:  -    
Copyright Information:
Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Srl. All rights reserved.
Affiliation:
NIMH Center for the Study of Emotion and Attention, University of Florida, USA.
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