Record Details

Memory for emotional faces: Are angry faces more memorable than happy faces?

ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University

Field Value
Title Memory for emotional faces: Are angry faces more memorable than happy faces?
Names Burros, Alison (creator)
Herdener, Nathan (creator)
Lien, Mei-Ching (creator)
Lien, Mei-Ching (advisor)
Date Issued 2014-05-20 (iso8601)
Note Bachelor of Science (BS)
Abstract Previous studies have suggested that negatively valenced faces (e.g., angry faces) automatically capture attention away from faces with other emotional valences (e.g., happy faces and neutral faces). The present study evaluated whether this attentional bias enhances memory of the negative emotional faces. Participants first performed a gender discrimination task on a face expressing either an angry emotion or a happy emotion, unaware that they would later be tested on their recognition of those faces. They were then given a 20-minute distraction task, in which they played object-matching games. Finally, they were given the recognition task, judging whether a face with a neutral emotional expression was shown in the earlier task (old identity vs. new identity). We found that face recognition was not modulated by the emotional expression, suggesting that negative emotional faces do not enhance memory. Implications for false memory and eyewitness testimony will be discussed.
Genre Poster
Topic Memory
Identifier http://hdl.handle.net/1957/48204

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