The effects of movement on retrieval of emotional memory: an experiment on embodied cognition

Several behavioral and neuropsychological studies have shown that many cognitive processes are influenced by spatial, motor, and physical characteristics. For example, the relations between emotional valence of stimuli (positive vs. negative) and spatial dimensions (up vs. down) have been approved by many experiments (e.g. happiness is up).

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the movement of the head to the left or right of the space could affect retrieval of Persian words with positive and negative valence?

The research method was experimental. For this purpose, 38 participants from the population of Psychology Students of the University of Isfahan were selected by the public call and convenience sampling for participation in the research. DMDX software was used to evaluate the effect of movement on emotional memory. The results were then analyzed by repeated measure design using SPSS 24 software.

The results of the study indicated that the number of retrieved words with valence was more than neutral ones. In addition, the interaction of valence and head movement was significant (p<0.05).

In addition to reviewing embodied accounts we finally conclude that abstract concepts such as positive and negative emotions might be under the influence of movement to the left or right of the space.