Zusammenfassung
Anliegen Die vorliegende Studie untersucht den Einfluss emotionaler Stimuli auf die Informationsverarbeitung
bei Patienten mit mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methode Untersucht wurden 10 Patienten mit MCI und 10 gesunde, altersgematchte Kontrollprobanden.
Die Probanden bearbeiteten eine emotionale Arbeitsgedächtnisaufgabe (2-back). Ergebnisse In der Patientengruppe wurden negative Stimuli signifikant besser erinnert als neutrale
und positive Stimuli. Schlussfolgerung Die Befunde deuten auf einen Kompensationsmechanismus bei MCI durch emotionale Stimuli
hin.
Abstract
Objective Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is defined as a selective decline in memory performance
in the content of otherwise normal cognitive and daily functioning. While most studies
have addressed memory deterioration in MCI, the present study explores enhancing effects.
Research on the negativity bias, a robust psychological phenomenom, has shown that
stimuli with negative valence have enhancing effects on information processing. Methods Ten patients with MCI and ten healthy elderly were included in the study. The subjects
executed an emotional 2-back working memory task with IAPS stimuli (neutral, positive,
negative). Results An effect was only observed in the patient group: negative stimuli significantly
improved memory performance compared to neutral and positive stimuli. The overall
memory performance did not differ between the groups. Conclusions The results indicate that negative stimuli have enhancing effects on information
processing in patients with MCI. These results are coherent with research on the negativity
bias and implicate the development of cognitive-emotional training programs for patients
with MCI.
Schlüsselwörter
Mild cognitive impairment - Emotion - Gedächtnis
Key words
mild cognitive impairment - emotion - memory