Gender Differences in the Effect of Emotion on Episodic Memory Consolidation Zeinab Azimi, Dr. Abbas Bakhshipour Roudsari

The function of episodic memory is to recall what، where، and when something happened. Memory is prone to damage and change، and various factors can play a role in its changing and weakening. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of emotion on the consolidation of episodic memory of female and male subjects. Therefore، in a study with an experimental design، from among Tabriz University students، 120 students (60 males and 60 females) were selected through cluster random sampling method in the academic year of 2010-2011. Then the subjects were provided with a list of words which were emotionally neutral and they were tested in terms of memory. After 5 minutes، the subjects were assigned equally and randomly into 3 groups. Each group was assigned a different task for 3 minutes i. e. watching positive videos، watching negative videos and resting. Then the three groups were again tested in terms of memory. The results of the study showed that only negative emotion significantly enhanced memory consolidation in females in some cases. However، neither positive nor negative emotions had any significant effects on source memory consolidation of both genders. The findings of the study indicate that the effects of emotion on episodic memory consolidation are not thorough and the emotion has different effects on males and females after they learn the patterns.