Emotional interference-based forgetting in short-term memory. Cognitive inhibition of pleasant but not unpleasant biologically relevant distractors.

Emotional stimuli automatically recruit attentional resources. Although this usually brings more adaptive responses, it may suppose a disadvantage when emotional information is task-irrelevant and should be ignored. Previous studies have shown how emotional stimuli with a negative content exert a greater interference than neutral stimuli during a concurrent working memory (WM) task. However, the impact of positively valenced stimuli as interference has not been addressed to date. In three experiments and one re-analysis we explore the impact of pleasant and unpleasant emotional distractors during WM maintenance. The results suggest that our cognitive control can cope with the interference posed by pleasant distractors as well as with the interference posed by neutral stimuli. However, unpleasant distractors are harder to control in the context of WM maintenance. As unpleasant stimuli usually convey relevant information that we should not to ignore, our executive control seems to be less able to reallocate cognitive resources after unpleasant distraction.

Mere exposure effect can be elicited in transient global amnesia.

Transient global amnesia (TGA) is one of the most severe forms of anterograde amnesia seen in clinical practice, yet patients may show evidence of spared learning during the amnesic episode. The scope of spared learning in such a severe form of amnesia remains uncertain, and it is also unclear whether findings from single-case studies hold up in group studies of TGA patients. In this group study, we found evidence that extended the domain of spared learning in TGA to include the mere exposure effect, whereby enhanced preference is primed by prior exposure to stimuli. We demonstrate this effect during an acute episode in a group of TGA patients, where they showed enhanced preference for previously exposed faces, despite markedly impaired performance on standard anterograde memory tests.

Memoria y metamemoria durante la amnesia global transitoria: estudio comparativo sobre su evolución a largo plazo / Memory and metamemory during transient global amnesia: a comparative study about long-term follow up

Introducción. Los criterios diagnósticos de la amnesia global transitoria (AGT) establecen que el funcionamiento de la memoria se debe restablecer, como máximo, en 24 horas. Sin embargo, existen datos contradictorios sobre si aparecen secuelas a largo plazo. Además, no está claro qué herramienta es la más adecuada para controlar la evolución de estos pacientes. Objetivos. Evaluar la afectación de la memoria episódica de los pacientes con AGT durante el episodio amnésico y a los 7, 30 y 90 días después, con la tarea de recuerdo libre y con el test minimental, y estudiar la metamemoria de estos pacientes. Sujetos y métodos. Se han evaluado 17 pacientes con AGT y 17 voluntarios igualados en edad, sexo y nivel educativo con el grupo de pacientes. Se ha realizado un estudio longitudinal (cuatro evaluaciones) factorial (con el grupo de pacientes y el grupo control). Resultados. Durante la AGT, los pacientes muestran afectación de la memoria episódica tanto utilizando la tarea de recuerdo libre como el test minimental. Sin embargo, sólo la prueba de recuerdo libre detecta una mejoría a lo largo del tiempo y una puntuación alterada tres meses después. Por otra parte, se ha evidenciado que la metamemoria de estos pacientes es poco precisa. Conclusiones. Tanto la tarea de recuerdo libre como el test minimental detectan alteración durante la AGT, pero sólo la primera es una prueba sensible a la alteración de la memoria a largo plazo asociada a este tipo de amnesia (AU)

Introduction. Diagnostic criteria of transient global amnesia (TGA) establishes that memory functioning has to be recovered in 24 hours. However, there are contradictory data about the existence of long-term sequelae. Furthermore, there is no consensus about which is the most suitable tool in order to use in the assessment of the follow up of these patients. Aims. To assess episodic memory of TGA patients during amnesic episode and 7, 30 and 90 days after with free recall and Mini-Mental tasks. Moreover, it has been measured patient’s metamemory. Subjects and methods. 17 TGA patients and 17 healthy volunteers, matched by age, sex, and educational level were assessed. A longitudinal (four assessments) and factorial (patients and control group) study was carried out. Results. During TGA, free recall and Mini-Mental tasks were significantly affected. However, only free recall task showedimprovement along time and impairment after three months. It has been also detected that metamemory of TGA patients is imprecise. Conclusions. Comparing with control group, both free recall and Mini-Mental tasks have significant lower levels during TGA, but only the first one is sensitive enough to show long-term disturbance associated with this amnesia (AU)

[Memory and metamemory during transient global amnesia: a comparative study about long-term follow up]. / Memoria y metamemoria durante la amnesia global transitoria: estudio comparativo sobre su evolución a largo plazo.

INTRODUCTION: Diagnostic criteria of transient global amnesia (TGA) establishes that memory functioning has to be recovered in 24 hours. However, there are contradictory data about the existence of long-term sequelae. Furthermore, there is no consensus about which is the most suitable tool in order to use in the assessment of the follow up of these patients. AIMS: To assess episodic memory of TGA patients during amnesic episode and 7, 30 and 90 days after with free recall and Mini-Mental tasks. Moreover, it has been measured patient's metamemory. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 17 TGA patients and 17 healthy volunteers, matched by age, sex, and educational level were assessed. A longitudinal (four assessments) and factorial (patients and control group) study was carried out. RESULTS: During TGA, free recall and Mini-Mental tasks were significantly affected. However, only free recall task showed improvement along time and impairment after three months. It has been also detected that metamemory of TGA patients is imprecise. CONCLUSIONS: Comparing with control group, both free recall and Mini-Mental tasks have significant lower levels during TGA, but only the first one is sensitive enough to show long-term disturbance associated with this amnesia.