PDF (PhD Thesis Susan Chipchase) - Nottingham eTheses ...

High Threshold Theory (Macmillan & Creelman, 1990). However, it is not
immediately obvious which mathematical model should be applied to the SSN
task and the choice of model would affect the results obtained.
Section 6.5. Encoding or Retrieval effects
In this thesis I have examined the effects of emotion on processes
occurring at the time of encoding or retrieving a memory. From this research it
is not possible to definitively conclude whether encoding or retrieval effects
are critical to the emotional enhancement of memory. Nevertheless, findings
that emotional enhancement of visual specificity of memory cannot solely be
accounted for by effects of visual attention at encoding suggest that is it likely
that emotion has influences on additional processes. In speculating what these
might be I would suggest emotion may exert an influence on processes of
encoding and retrieval, even though perhaps stronger effects on memory may
be seen with encoding than retrieval effects.
Despite the intended focus of experiments in this thesis on encoding
and retrieval effects it is also possible that emotions may exert an effect during
the process of consolidating a memory (e.g. Soetens et al., 1995). In the
experimental findings of this thesis it is difficult to distinguish between
whether these effects are due to encoding, consolidation or retrieval effects.
For example, the central-peripheral trade-off effects in memory for negative
emotional stimuli may be due to encoding, consolidation or retrieval. After
Experiment 7 I seemed to have found concrete evidence for attentional effects
at the time of encoding negative emotional stimuli that were associated with
the central-peripheral trade-offs in memory for these stimuli, even though
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