Memory bias for emotional facial expressions in major depression

Citation

Ridout N, Astell AJ, Reid IC, Glen T & O'Carroll R (2003) Memory bias for emotional facial expressions in major depression. Cognition and Emotion, 17 (1), pp. 101-122. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?partnerID=yv4JPVwI&eid=2-s2.0-0037252358&md5=13de806db3ccf25ce36677bb3f63d27b; https://doi.org/10.1080/02699930302272

Abstract
Sixteen clinically depressed patients and sixteen healthy controls were presented with a set of emotional facial expressions and were asked to identify the emotion portrayed by each face. They, were subsequently given a recognition memory test for these faces. There was no difference between the groups in terms of their ability to identify emotion between from faces. All participants identified emotional expressions more accurately than neutral expressions, with happy expressions being identified most accurately. During the recognition memory phase the depressed patients demonstrated superior memory for sad expressions, and inferior memory for happy expressions, relative to neutral expressions. Conversely, the controls demonstrated superior memory for happy expressions, and inferior memory for sad expressions, relative to neutral expressions. These results are discussed in terms of the cognitive model of depression proposed by Williams, Watts, MacLeod, and Mathews (1997)

Journal
Cognition and Emotion: Volume 17, Issue 1

People

Professor Ronan O'Carroll

Professor, Psychology