Emotions and Memories

The purpose of the review of literature presented here is to examine theories of emotion as well as research and theory on the relatedness of emotions and memory. The studies and theories reviewed are then used as a foundation for the formulation of implications for psychotherapy and the treatment of emotional disturbances.

The review begins with an examination of some basic theory and research on the functions of emotions. This is followed by an explication and discussion of several models of the role and place of emotions in memory. Following the explication and discussion of these model, the review presents an examination of studies focusing on the common neuroanatomical elements, processes, and structures of emotions and memory (emotional memory). The final section of the review discusses implications for psychotherapy derived from the reviewed material.

What are the functions of emotions? Different theorists posit different and diverse answers to this question. Clore (1992, 1994) states that th

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judgement to a larger (septo-hippocampal-amygdalar) memory and learning processing network. As observed in Cramon et. al's (1993) study, the amygdalar complex appears to be central to emotional memory, especially as emotions relate to learning. In this regard, LeDoux (1993), based on animal studies using aversive conditioning, constructed a model of the neuroanatomical basis of emotional memory in which the lateral nucleus of the amygdala (LNA) was postulated as the sensory interface; the central nucleus was said to be the linkage with motor systems involved in the control of species-typical emotional behaviors and autonomic responses. LeDoux (1993a) reported that existing research on cellular mechanisms in these pathways have focused on the direct relay to the LNA from the auditory thalamus with findings establishing that single LNA cells respond to both CS and non-CS inputs. In other words, the LNA might be a critical site of sensory-sensory integration in emotional learning. In addition, LeDoux (1993a) notes that the thalamo-amygdala pathway also exhibits long-term potentiation, a form of synaptic plasticity that might underlie emotional learning functions. Moreover, it is postulated that this plasticity might be medi
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Approximate Word count = 8780
Approximate Pages = 35 (250 words per page)

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