Affective Modulation of Working Memory Maintenance: The Role of Positive and Negative Emotions

The present study investigated the impact of task-irrelevant emotional images on retention information in spatial working memory (WM). Two experiments employed a delayed matching to-sample task where participants had to maintain locations four briefly presented squares. After short interval, probe item appeared and were required indicate whether position matched one previously occupied square positions. During negative, positive, or neutral pictures presented. results revealed dissociation between negative positive affect participants’ ability hold WM. While affective reduced WM capacity, increased capacity relative images. Moreover, specific valence arousal given picture was also related performance: higher enhanced levels turn capacity. Together, our findings suggest that emotions up- down-regulate attention items thus modulate short-term storage visual memory.