Divided attention at encoding or retrieval interferes with emotionally enhanced memory for words

Memory and attention: A double dissociation between memory encoding and memory retrieval

Research has found substantial negative effects of divided attention (DA) during encoding but less substantial effects when attention is divided during retrieval, an asymmetry which has been interpreted as indicating that different control processes or forms of attention are involved in encoding and retrieval (e.g., Chun & Johnson, 2011; Craik, Govoni, Naveh-Benjamin, & Anderson, 1996; Long, Kuhl, & Chun, 2018). The extant evidence, however, is not strong support for qualitative differences and might simply indicate differential sensitivity. The present experiments document a stronger, double dissociation by focusing on the Attentional Boost Effect (ABE) - a phenomenon in which the detection of targets in a secondary task enhances encoding of co-occurring stimuli. The dual-task interaction account proposes that the classical negative effects produced by dual-task interference are offset by a transient increase in externally-directed attention brought about by target detection. Since externally-directed attention is less valuable for retrieval processes, the ABE should result in a net negative effect when applied in the test phase because the dual-task interference would no longer be offset by the externally-directed boost occurring during target trials. Experiments 1, 2 and 4 confirmed the predictions by showing that test words paired with target stimuli were recognized significantly worse than test words paired with distractor stimuli. In contrast, Experiments 3 and 4 replicated the usual positive effects of the ABE with respect to encoding. We discuss these findings in light of recent theoretical proposals suggesting that encoding and retrieval processes are subserved by different forms of attention (external [perceptual] vs. internal [reflective]). Implications for the Transfer-Appropriate-Processing view of memory are also illustrated.

The role of selective attention in Chinese emotional word processing: evidence from event-related potentials

OBJECTIVES

This study seeks to explore the interaction between ignored valence and attended valence in the processing of Chinese emotion words.

METHODS

The experimental materials utilized in this study consisted of Chinese emotion words. Participants were instructed to observe the words and press a key when presented with target words. Additionally, the electroencephalographic responses of the participants were recorded during the experiment.

RESULTS

The results showed that emotional nontarget words elicited greater amplitude of the N170 in the attend-emotion words block compared to the attend-neutral words block. Negative nontarget words produce greater amplitude of the late posterior positivity compared to positive nontarget words. In addition, emotional nontarget words were influenced by both ignored and attended valence, whereby positive nontarget words resulted in larger amplitude of the N170 component in the attend-negative block compared to the attend-neutral block. The modulation pattern for negative nontarget words was evident on the left hemisphere.

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that emotional nontarget words received greater attentional resources in the attend-emotion words block during the early stages of processing, compared to the attend-neutral word block. Additionally, during the later stages of processing, negative nontarget words were more likely to be processed than positive nontarget words. Overall, these results provide support for the evaluation space model.