Chapter 1.8 Emotion and episodic memory

Low and high glycemic index drinks differentially affect sleep polysomnography and memory consolidation: A randomized controlled trial

Limited research has examined the effect of meal composition on sleep. Based on previous research, we hypothesized that a low glycemic index (LGI) drink containing 50 g isomaltulose (Palatinose, GI = 32) would result in more N3 sleep, less rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and better memory consolidation than a high glycemic index (HGI) drink containing 50 g glucose (GI = 100). Healthy males (n = 20) attended the laboratory on three occasions at least a week apart (one acclimatization night and two test nights). Using a repeated measures, randomized, double-blind design, participants consumed a standardized evening meal followed four hours later by a HGI or LGI drink. Sleep architecture and continuity were assessed using polysomnography. Procedural and episodic memory were assessed pre- and post-sleep using a finger tapping task and story recall task, respectively. There was no main effect of drink. However, there was an interaction between drink and drink order. N3 sleep percentage was significantly longer (28.71% vs 23.99%, respectively, p = .032) and overnight retention of neutral story content was significantly better (0.63 words vs -10.13 words, respectively, p = .002) after the LGI drink than HGI drink, but only when the LGI drink was consumed on the second test night and HGI drink on the first test night. No changes in REM sleep were observed. Findings suggest that the nature of carbohydrate consumed before bed may influence sleep quality and quantity and neutral episodic memory consolidation. Pre-registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05591573).

Successful use of the forced choice test for detecting concealment of semantic memory in criminal and intelligence investigations

The current study examined the validity of the forced choice test (FCT) in a forensic scenario when used to detect concealment of semantic memory (SM-FCT). We also compared the SM-FCT validity to the FCT validity in the more commonly investigated episodic memory scenario (EM-FCT). In simulating a scenario of investigating suspected members of a terror organization, 277 students were asked to deceptively deny being enrolled in a college in which they do actually study. Results indicated that the SM-FCT's validity level was within the range of the EM-FCTs' validity levels. Theoretically, the results support a cognitive-based explanation for the FCT operation mechanism. Practically, they imply that FCT can be used in criminal or intelligence investigations of suspected members of terrorist or criminal organizations or suspected perpetrators of illegal acts or acts of terrorism, in which the incriminating evidence being sought is in the realm of designated semantic memory or knowledge.

The “Perfect Storm” – Perfectionists’ Perceptions and Experiences of Abusive Supervision

Abstract. Using followership theory and the perpetrator predation framework, we examine how perfectionism may impact subordinates’ perceptions of abusive supervision and risk for being targeted by an abusive supervisor. Full-time workers ( N = 495) responded to a vignette survey assessing their multidimensional perfectionism and experiences and perceptions of abusive supervision. As hypothesized, socially prescribed perfectionism was associated with increased experiences of abusive leadership, whereas self-oriented perfectionism was related to fewer experiences. Unexpectedly, other-oriented perfectionism was related to lower perceptions of abusive supervision, and self-oriented perfectionism was related to greater perceptions. Theoretical and practical implications are further discussed.

Impairment of aversive episodic memories during Covid-19 pandemic: The impact of emotional context on memory processes

The threatening context of the COVID-19 pandemic provided a unique setting to study the effects of negative psychological symptoms on memory processes. Episodic memory is an essential function of the human being related to the ability to store and remember experiences and anticipate possible events in the future. Studying this function in this context is crucial to understand what effects the pandemic will have on the formation of episodic memories. To study this, the formation of episodic memories was evaluated by free recall, recognition, and episode order tasks for an aversive and neutral content. The results indicated that aversive episodic memory is impaired both in the free recall task and in the recognition task. Even the beneficial effect that emotional memory usually has for the episodic order was undermined as there were no differences between the neutral and aversive condition. The present work adds to the evidence that indicates that the level of activation does not modify memory processes in a linear way, which also depends on the type of recall and the characteristics of the content to be encoded.

Affective Episodic Memory System for Virtual Creatures: The First Step of Emotion-Oriented Memory

Episodic memory and emotions are considered essential functions in human cognition. Both allow us to acquire new knowledge from the environment, ranging from the objects around us to how we feel towards them. These qualities make them crucial functions for systems trying to create human-like behaviour. In the field of cognitive architectures (CAs), there are multiple studies covering memory and emotions. However, most of them treat these subjects in an isolated manner, considering emotions only as a reward signal unrelated to a retrieved experience. To address this lack of direct interaction, we propose a computational model that covers the common processes that are related to memory and emotions. Specifically, this proposal focuses on affective evaluations of episodic memories. Neurosciences and psychology are the bases of this model. That is, the model's components and the processes that they carry out on the information they receive are designed based on evidence from these cognitive sciences. The proposed model is a part of Cuáyóllótl, a cognitive architecture for cybernetic entities such as virtual creatures and robots. Case studies validate our proposal. They show the relevance of the integration of emotions and memory in a virtual creature. The virtual creature endowed with our emotional episodic model improves its learning and modifies its behaviour according to planning and decision-making processes.

The Relationship Between Follower Affect for President Trump and the Adoption of COVID-19 Personal Protective Behaviors

In the current series of studies, we draw upon implicit leadership theories, social learning theory, and research on decision making to investigate whether affect toward President Trump explains U.S. residents’ evaluations of his leadership during the COVID-19 crisis, as well as the likelihood that that residents engage in personal protective behaviors. A meta-analysis using 17 nationally representative datasets with a total of 26,876 participants indicated that participants who approve of President Trump tend to approve of his leadership regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and were less likely to engage in personal protective behavior (PPBs; i.e., hand washing, wearing a mask or other face covering in public, and social distancing). On the other hand, those disapproving of President Trump also tended to disapprove of his leadership during the COVID-19 crisis and were more likely to engage in PPBs. In a second study, using an established measure of leader affect (leader affect questionnaire) and controlling for political party, we replicated and extended these results by demonstrating that expending cognitive effort toward understanding the COVID-19 crisis attenuated the relationship between affect toward President Trump and (1) approval of his leadership during the COVID-19 crisis and (2) engagement in some, but not all, PPBs.