The influence of pre- and intratask emotional experiences on affective working memory maintenance.

In two studies conducted in 2022, we examined the effect of images that elicit incidental emotions and the timing of exposure to these images, on the maintenance of positive and negative emotions in affective working memory (AWM). In Study 1, participants viewed a negative, positive, or neutral image while maintaining the emotional intensity of positive or negative emotions in AWM (intratrial). The results showed that experiencing a negative or positive incidental emotion (but not neutral states) improved the maintenance of negative (but not positive) emotions induced by another stimulus.

Simultaneous maintenance of emotions in affective working memory.

Affective Working Memory (AWM) is the ability to maintain an emotion after the emotion-eliciting stimulus is no longer present. Emotions are dynamic, and emotion-eliciting stimuli are encountered simultaneously and sequentially. Therefore, this research aimed to examine AWM when more than one emotion is being maintained.