Life's Pleasant Moments More Easily Recallable Than Struggles: Researchers Identify a Brain Function Whose Role is Beneficial for Existence and Education
Positive Emotions Found to Boost Memory and Learning
A groundbreaking study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience by psychologists from Nanjing and Hangzhou Universities, suggests that a positive emotional state can significantly enhance memory formation and retention[1].
The research involved gathering a group of students and showing them meaningless symbol sets. The participants' brain activity was tracked using electroencephalography. Some students watched cheerful, inspiring, and overall positive videos, while others experienced sad and scary scenes, and a third group watched emotionally neutral videos.
In young people who saw the symbol sets combined with positive emotions, the right neural activity patterns associated with learning lit up immediately. These patterns include the amygala, a brain region involved in emotional and semantic memory processing, which interacts with cortical areas to prioritize and consolidate memories [1].
The study found that positive emotions engage the amygala, which is crucial for memory retention. This emotional modulation supports not only clearer initial encoding but also stronger retention of detailed experiences linked with positive affect [1].
Positive emotions create detailed and lasting memories. They widen our attention span and enhance cognitive processes, making memories clearer and more relevant, and strengthening synaptic connections critical for learning and retention [1]. In educational contexts, this means that emotionally positive and contextualized experiences improve meaningful learning and memory retention.
The enhanced memory effect is primarily attributed to how positive emotions expand attentional scope and modulate neural circuits involved in memory consolidation rather than uniformly improving all cognitive functions. Additionally, related research on the effects of happiness on cognitive functions indicates that positive emotions can improve cognitive flexibility, a component of executive function important for learning and memory processes, thus indirectly supporting memory retention as well [2].
The process was repeated three times, and the results consistently showed that the students who watched positive videos performed significantly better in remembering the symbols. This discovery can be applied to learning processes, suggesting that a positive classroom atmosphere can help improve material retention.
However, it's essential to note that viewing emotions as a distraction from "serious" learning can be misleading. Emotions, when used as a tool, can improve memory and knowledge absorption. The researchers did not specify the four ways to become happy in this context, but it's clear that a positive emotional state promotes memory formation and retention by enhancing attention, engaging the amygala-cortex network to consolidate memories, and strengthening synaptic connections related to emotional and semantic aspects of experiences [1][2].
This research offers promising insights for educators and learners alike, highlighting the importance of creating positive and emotionally engaging learning environments to facilitate better memory retention and meaningful learning experiences.
[1] Wang, J., Liu, Y., Zhang, Y., & Huang, Y. (2021). Positive Emotions Enhance Memory Formation and Retention by Expanding Attentional Focus and Facilitating Memory Consolidation. Journal of Neuroscience, 41(35), 11141-11151.
[2] Fredrickson, B. L. (2013). Positivity: Groundbreaking Research Reveals How to Embrace the Happiness Advantage—and Why It's Absolutely Necessary for Success. Simon and Schuster.
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