EmRSVP1

 

Question:  Do people remember pictorial stimuli better when they are emotionally charged in a situation where they do not have time or opportunity to differentially rehearse the emotionally charged stimuli? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Variables

 

1.  Position of emotional picture in list (1, …, 5, no emotional picture)

 

2.  Whether subject must count backwards during retention interval.

 

Design

 

60 total pictures (12 sequences of five pictures).

10 of the 60 are emotional pictures; 48 are neutral.

 

Subject sees 12 sets of 5.  Order of conditions is counterbalanced:

Group1: 1,2,3,4,5,6,1,2,3,4,5,6

Group2: 2,3,4,5,6,1,2,3,4,5,6,1

Group6: 6,1,2,3,4,5,6,1,2,3,4,5

 

Subject counts backwards on either first six sets, or second six sets.

 


Procedure

 

·        Fixation point is presented for one second at the center of the screen.  Each picture is presented for 250 msec, followed immediately by the next picture, then by the number to begin counting backward from (if present), then by the cue to recall (giant question mark with box for text).

 

·        Computer presents instructions to report all the pictures in any order desired, using a phrase.  Two practice trials are then presented using 12 neutral pictures.

 

·        Subject sees a sequence and then types in responses.

 

Issues

 

1.  How do we score recall of picture?