How Emotions Influence Cognitive Processes Such As Learning, Memory In Our Brain

A new study conducted at University of Haifa in Israel says that emotions are not only the product of information-processing by the brain but they also directly influence the processes of learning and memory.

"Different emotions cause the brain to work differently and on distinct frequencies," said researcher Shlomo Wagner. In the first part of the study, the researchers examined the electrical activity in the brains of rats during social behavior.

How Are Some People Able to Sustain and Savor Positive Emotions for Longer Periods?
Duration of activity in specific circuits of the brain, even for just seconds, can predict a person's persistence of positive emotion minutes and hours later.

They discovered strong rhythmical activity reflecting a state of excitement in the animal. This activity was particularly strong and synchronous between areas of the brain associated with social memory during the first encounter between two previously unfamiliar rats.

This rhythmical brain activity declined in strength and in the level of coordination between different brain areas as the encounter between the two rats was repeated.

"The results said the excitement of the social encounter with a stranger rat created the high level of synchronized rhythmic activity in the brain, and it was this factor that seems to facilitate the formation of social memory," Wagner said. "In essence, this explains why people tend to remember in particular their first encounter with a future friend or partner," Wagner said.

Binge Eating To Pacify Negative Emotions Reflect Impairment In Behavior Control
People with such eating problems generally have higher levels of negative urgency or a tendency to act impulsively when experiencing negative emotions.

The researchers then exposed the rats to a different emotion -- a negative one associated with exposure to a frightening stimulant.

Once again, strong rhythmical activity and coordination between the different areas associated with social memory was seen. However, this took place on a different frequency and at a slower rhythmical pattern.

Genes Influence Regulation of Emotions, Evaluating Both Pleasure and Threat
This may help explain why some people are more susceptible to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and intrusive memories following trauma.

"The implication is clear. Different emotions cause the brain to work differently, including in terms of cognitive processes such as learning and memory," Wagner said. The study was published in the science journal eLife.

Source-IANS

Facial Expressions More Important to Convey Emotions in Music Than in Speech
By just an audio recording, people cannot recognize emotions. However, with visual cues their understanding of the emotions improved dramatically.