The Memory Enhancing Effect of Emotion: Functional Neuroimaging Evidence
Emotional events are usually remembered better than neutral events. The anatomical and functional correlates of this phenomenon have been investigated in both animals and humans, with approaches ranging from neuropsychological and pharmacological to electrophysiological and functional neuroimaging. The present chapter reviews this evidence, focusing in particular on functional neuroimaging studies in humans, which have examined the effects of emotion on memory-related activity during both encoding and retrieval. The available evidence emphasizes the role of the amygdala, the medial temporal lobe memory system, and the prefrontal cortex. The chapter ends with a discussion of open issues and future directions. © 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.