Positive Mood Has Negative Effects on Memory Storage Capacity

While studying about the relationship between mood and memory, US scientists have found that being in a good mood decreases your ability to retain information. This is the first report which shows positive mood can have a negative effect on the memory storage capacity of the brain. The researchers gauged the mood of study participants before and after showing them a video clip. One group was shown a video of a stand-up comedy routine, while another group was shown a video on how to install flooring, following which both the groups had to undergo a memory test. Participants who had viewed the comedy clip were in significantly better moods as compared to those who had watched the flooring video. It was seen that those who watched the flooring video performed significantly better at the memory test, thus leading to the conclusion.

This explains why we are unable to remember the names or phone numbers of the people when we are enjoying ourselves at a party. The study has been published in the journal Cognition and Emotion.


Source-Medindia