A new study suggests that positive emotions can significantly improve memory retention by promoting consistent brain activity during learning.
Researchers from Hangzhou Normal University and Nanjing Normal University conducted an experiment involving 44 university students who learned 144 meaningless shapes, each paired with either a positive, neutral, or negative image. After 24 hours, students took a recognition test. Results showed participants more accurately remembered shapes paired with positive images.
Electroencephalography (EEG) scans revealed that happy emotions triggered consistent neural patterns in the right frontal brain region, between 380-600 milliseconds after seeing each shape. “Participants who showed the greatest neural similarity patterns in response to positive emotion-paired squiggles also scored highest on the memory tests,” researchers stated.
Interestingly, negative emotions increased neural activity in the right posterior region but didn’t improve memory, suggesting alertness rather than learning.
The study, published July 7 in the Journal of Neuroscience, supports the theory that a positive mindset enhances learning. Authors emphasize that happy environments—such as classrooms and study settings—could aid memory.
While findings are promising, the study’s small sample and controlled design limit generalization. Still, researchers conclude, “Positive emotion enhances memory by promoting memory reinstatement across repeated learning.”