The article by Kensinger (2009) “Remembering the Details: Effects of Emotion” is dedicated to the phenomenon of human memory. It is a well-known fact that peoples’ ability to remember the past is flawed. In some cases, memories can be vivid and detailed, while in others, recollection can be limited or absent. In a similar manner, there are both instances when past events correspond perfectly with what people remember and occasions when the descriptions are not accurate. In my opinion, the article effectively and comprehensively explains how the emotional impact on memories is essential in understanding their quality.
The role of emotions in the mind’s capability of memorizing events has long been established as substantial. Specifically, there is evidence that negative feelings cause people to remember the past with more accuracy (Kensinger, 2009). The improved recollection of events occurs because “the amygdala and the orbitofrontal cortex modulate the processing of regions that facilitate the encoding of sensory detail and the consolidation of memory” (Kensinger, 2009, p. 101). In essence, the more negativity a person experiences, the better they will remember the ordeal.
The reverse correlation is observed between positive feelings and inaccurate memories. Research indicates that “positive emotion can be associated with a stronger disconnect between memory confidence and memory vividness, and with a greater propensity for memory errors than negative emotion” (Kensinger, 2009, p. 105). The difference is attributed to the involvement of other brain areas, which activate “conceptual and self-referential processing” (Kensinger, 2009, p. 106). The subsequent implication is that the more positivity a memory inspires, the less reliable it is.
Altogether, the quality of memories is heavily dependent on the associated emotions. Positive and negative experiences activate different brain areas, and, in their turn, these regions start their own event processing, which can add more detail to the memories or make them more vivid at the expense of accuracy. Overall, the author efficiently communicated the role of emotions in memorizing events and provided appropriate evidence to support her claim.
Reference
Kensinger, E. A. (2009). Remembering the details: Effects of emotion. Emotion Review, 1(2), 99-113.