Limited carry-over effects of socioemotional manipulations on subsequent unrelated memory tasks.

Although age is typically associated with significant impairments in memory performance, several domains exist in which these impairments are reduced or even eliminated. These "pockets of preservation" in older adults' memory can be seen in tasks involving socioemotional processing and may be supported by distinct encoding or retrieval modes relative to neutral content. The current study examines whether engaging in socioemotional tasks prior to encoding or retrieval allows older adults to enter an encoding or retrieval mode that better supports memory performance.