Dynamic emotional states shape the episodic structure of memory

Abstract

Human emotions fluctuate over time. However, it is unclear how these shifting emotional states influence the organization of episodic memory. Here, we examine how emotion dynamics transform experiences into memorable events. Using custom musical pieces and a dynamic emotion-tracking tool to elicit and measure temporal fluctuations in felt valence and arousal, our results demonstrate that memory is organized around emotional states. While listening to music, fluctuations between different emotional valences bias temporal encoding process toward memory integration or separation. Whereas a large absolute or negative shift in valence helps segment memories into episodes, a positive emotional shift binds sequential representations together. Both discrete and dynamic shifts in music-evoked valence and arousal also enhance delayed item and temporal source memory for concurrent neutral items, signaling the beginning of new emotional events. These findings are in line with the idea that the rise and fall of emotions can sculpt unfolding experiences into memories of meaningful events.

Emotional state dynamics impacts temporal memory

“…On the other hand, a temporal-order memory enhancing impact of negative emotional images contrasts with a recent finding indicating that music-evoked transitions to a more negative emotional state reduces temporal order accuracy for neutral objects (McClay et al, 2023). It is possible that the emotional modulation of temporal memory varies by whether temporal memory is measured for items that were themselves emotionally evocative versus extraneous to the emotioninducing stimuli (Mather, 2007;McClay et al, 2023); or, in other words, that negative emotion may differentially impact temporal memory for negative events compared to neutral items processed during negative states (McClay et al, 2023). Nonetheless, because our finding of higher temporal order memory accuracy for image pairs containing a recently-shown negative (vs. neutral) image was not a-priori predicted, it will be important to replicate it in the future.…”

“…This subjectively dilated time associated with Neutral-to-Negative valence shifts was also remembered as longer than the time elapsed between sequentially presented neutral or negative images. Consistently, a recent study using musical pieces to manipulate emotion during neutral-object encoding found that music-evoked emotional shifts toward a relatively more negative state produced larger remembered temporal distances for objects encoded during those emotional transitions (McClay et al, 2023).…”

“…Prior studies indicate that acute contextual shifts-such as going from one room to another-form so-called event boundaries (Zacks, 2020), which sculpt the organization of episodic memories, including memory for their temporal features (temporal memory) (Clewett et al, 2019;Shin & DuBrow, 2021). For example, subjective estimates of the time elapsed between a pair of items (henceforth referred to as 'temporal distance') are longer when items span an event boundary (even when objective time is held constant) (Ezzyat & Davachi, 2014;McClay et al, 2023;van de Ven et al, 2022;Y. C. Wang & Egner, 2022;Wen & Egner, 2022).…”

“…C. Wang & Egner, 2022;Wen & Egner, 2022). Moreover, memory for the order in which items were originally encoded (henceforth referred to 'temporal order memory') is often impaired for items spanning an event boundary (Clewett & Davachi, 2021;DuBrow & Davachi, 2014Gurguryan et al, 2021;Heusser et al, 2018;Hsieh et al, 2014;McClay et al, 2023;Pu et al, 2022;Sols et al, 2017;van de Ven et al, 2022;Y. C. Wang & Egner, 2022;Wen & Egner, 2022).…”

Anticipatory emotions and academic performance: The role of boredom in a preservice teachers’ lab experience

“…Emotion regulates the flow of information across brain regions and, in conjunction with a suite of neuromodulators, ensures that emotional outcomes are the focal point of perception, thought, and action (Likhtik et al, 2019;Todd et al, 2020). Emotion dynamics such as valence shifts transform otherwise neutral experiences into meaningful, memorable events (McClay et al, 2023). Given that the dynamics of emotional states shape the episodic structure of memory (McClay et al, 2023), it is essential to examine the interplay between emotions and learning within the classroom context, in situ, where shifts in valence and arousal occur.…”