The Role of Arousal in True and False Memories for Central and Peripheral Information

Studies on emotional memory for complex events suggest that arousal enhances long-term memory for central and peripheral information. Few studies, however, have addressed arousal effect on memory distortion. Aiming to investigate the relationship between arousal and true/false memories for central and peripheral information, a recognition test was developed. The test was supported by the Brazilian adaptation of the Cahill and McGaugh's (1995) slideshow procedure. The test was answered by 168 university students one week after they had watched either the low or the high emotional arousal version of the procedure. The arousal version of the story was responsible for better memory retrieval of true peripheral information and false central information.