认知负荷与老年人情绪记忆的积极效应

Cognitive load and positive effects of emotional memory in the elderly

目的:考察老年人是否存在情绪记忆的积极效应以及该效应与认知负荷的关系。方法:在南京市招募受教育程度在高中及以上的青年、中年、老年各20人,进行3(年龄组:青年、中年、老年)×3(情绪效价:积极、中性、消极)×2(认知负荷:低负荷、高负荷)的混合实验设计,采用情绪图片再认的经典范式,并通过增加点探测任务操纵认知负荷。结果:在低认知负荷下,老年组对积极图片的再认率高于消极图片和中性图片[(0.36±0.23)vs.(0.23±0.21),(0.16±0.24);P<0.05]。在高认知负荷下,老年组对3种情绪图片的再认率的差异无统计学意义[(0.27±0.21)vs.(0.03±0.19)vs.(0.26±0.24);P>0.05]。结论:本研究显示,老年人存在情绪记忆的积极效应,但认知负荷较高时这一效应可能会不明显。

Objective: To examine the positive effects on emotional memory in the elderly and the relationship between this effect and cognitive load. Methods: Totally 20 young people,20 middle-aged and 20 senior citizens with high education were recruited in Nanjing. Mixed experimental design were adopted [3 ( age group: youth /middle-aged /elderly)× 3 ( emotional valence: positive /neutral /negative )× 2 ( cognitive load: low / high)]. The classic paradigm for emotional picture recognition was used,and cognitive load was manipulated by adding point detection tasks. Results: Under the low cognitive load,the recognition scores of positive pictures in the elderly group were significantly higher than that of negative pictures and neutral pictures [( 0. 36 ± 0. 23) vs.( 0. 23 ± 0. 21),( 0. 16 ± 0. 24);P < 0. 05]. Under high cognitive load,there was no significant difference in the recognition rate of the three emotional images in the elderly group [( 0. 27 ± 0. 21) vs.( 0. 03 ± 0. 19) vs.( 0. 26 ± 0. 24),P > 0. 05]. Conclusion: It suggests that the positive effects on emotional memory in the elderly may not be obvious under higher cognitive load.