The influence of negative emotional intensity on dual-processing recognition

Abstract

Dual-processing theory assumes recognition memory involves two distinct processes: familiarity and recollection. Although the influence of emotional intensity on memory has been investigated, it remains unclear whether the influence of negative stimuli depends on familiarity or recollection. This study recorded event-related potentials as participants performed a modified remember/know procedure with highly negative, mildly negative, and neutral stimuli. The results showed that, relative to highly negative stimuli, mildly negative and neutral stimuli showed increased mean discrimination for responses of ‘know’ in the following pattern: highly negative < mildly negative < neutral. Neutral stimuli enhanced the frontal old/new effect. Relative to mildly negative and neutral stimuli, highly negative stimuli showed increased mean discrimination for responses of ‘remember’, and enhanced the parietal old/new effect. These results suggested negative emotional intensity influences recollection and familiarity differently, as recognition of highly negative stimuli depends on recollection, and recognition of neutral stimuli depends on familiarity.