Emotional Context Impact on Episodic Memory

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Waitlist Available

Sponsor: Boston College

No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?The purpose of this study is to assess how emotional memories integrate and interfere with one another over time. We will be using a multi-session experimental paradigm consisting of two encoding sessions and one retrieval session. Participants will either complete these sessions online or in-person, with the latter collecting functional magnetic resonance imaging during the two encoding sessions.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for individuals fluent in English who can follow the study protocol. Online participants need an account on a specified crowdsourcing platform. Those with psychiatric or neurological conditions, current psychotropic drug use, or specific issues that preclude MRI scans (like metal in the body) cannot participate.

Inclusion Criteria

All participants must be willing and able to follow the protocol

Online participants must have an online account in the crowdsourcing platform that will be used (e.g., Prolific)

All participants must be fluent in English

Exclusion Criteria

I have a history of mental health or neurological conditions, or I'm currently using medication for these issues.

fMRI participants who are pregnant, have metal in the body (including piercings or metallic makeup if unwilling to remove), unable to lie still for the duration of the scan (e.g., due to pain), have Meniere's disease, claustrophobia, or other contraindication for MRI as determined by the MRI technician, or are left-handed

Participant Groups

The study aims to understand how emotional memories affect each other over time using two encoding sessions and one retrieval session. Participants will either join online or in-person; the latter includes brain imaging during encoding sessions.

1Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Group I: Emotional memory updating paradigmExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

All participants will encode AB/AC word pairs shown with images that have differing emotional valence (positive, negative, or neutral)