48x48 Poster Template

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Mood dependent memory and the conditions under
which it occurs. Melissa Daly, Dr. Howard
Smith, Department of Psychology, Trinity College
Dublin.
BACKGROUND
METHOD
RESULTS
.
The present study investigated Mood dependent
memory for self-generated words using a Musical
mood induction procedure. Mood dependent memory
refers to the phenomenon where an individual has
better memory for information learned in a
particular mood when this mood is later
reinstated (Bower Forgas, 2000). Mood dependent
memory is supported by the associative network
theory (Bower, 1981) and has been argued to play
a causal role in memory disturbances associated
with many clinical disorders (Bower, 1994).
Despite a large number of null findings, the
huge implications that demonstrating this effect
would have for cognitive and clinical research
lead researchers to continue to search for the
conditions necessary for mood dependent memory to
occur (Eich, 1995).
Design A 2 (mood at learning Happy, Sad) x 2
(mood at testing Happy, Sad) between subjects
design with an independent control group without
mood manipulation was used. Participants memory
for self-generated words was measured. Participan
ts 75 (50 female, 25 male) psychology students
(n53) and members of the public (n22)
participated and were between 18 and 45 years of
age (mean age24.7).
Procedure
Figure 2 Mean mood scores for participants in
each mood group.
DISCUSSION

• Results did not support overall hypothesis
  participants whose moods matched did not remember
  more words than participants whose moods did not
  match.
• Providing moderate support for the associative
  network theory, a greater discrepancy between
  mood at learning and testing predicted a lower
  rate of recall.
• As stronger mood predicted a higher rate of
  recall at learning but not at testing, it could
  be inferred that strong and stable moods are only
  required at learning. Further research is needed.
• A significant decline in mood after free recall
  meant that mood did not remain stable for the
  duration of the experiment.
• In light of this, the absence of a mood dependent
  effect may be due to a failure to satisfy all
  three conditions outlined by previous research.
• Future research should focus on the nature of the
  recall task used in order to improve mood
  stability.

RESULTS

• One-way between subjects ANOVA revealed no
  significant differences for mean words
  remembered between groups.
• A significant negative correlation between words
  remembered and the difference between mood at
  learning and testing was observed r.218, n60,
  plt.05, one tailed.
• At learning, a significant positive correlation
  for words remembered and the degree of mood
  change (from before to after mood induction) was
  observed r.294, n60, plt.05, one tailed.
• At testing, a positive correlation for words
  remembered and mood change did not prove to be
  statistically significant r.002, n60, pgt.05,
  one tailed.
• As illustrated in Figure 2., mood declined
  significantly after free recall F (3, 181)9.82,
  plt.01, n2.15. No other significant differences
  in mood were observed.

Figure 1 Conditions under which Mood Dependent
Memory has been shown to occur.
AIMS

• It was hypothesised that a mood dependent effect
  would occur in the presence of the conditions
  outlined in Figure 1.
• It was predicted that
• Participants whose moods at learning and testing
  matched would remember more words than
  participants whose moods did not match.
• The greater the discrepancy between mood at
  learning and testing, the fewer words that would
  be remembered
• The stronger and more stable the mood, the
  greater the mood dependent effect would be.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Id like to thank my supervisor, Dr. Howard Smith
for his invaluable help and guidance throughout
the completion of this project. Id also like to
thank all those who gave up their time to
participate, and my family and friends for their
advice and support over the last few months.