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Effects of Level of Processing on Implicit and Explicit Memory in Depressed Mood

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Abstract

Recently, several studies have addressed the question of whether depression affects priming in implicit memory tasks. The main aim of this experiment was to assess the presence of a bias for negative information in explicit memory (free recall) and implicit memory (word-stem completion) tasks among subclinically depressed subjects compared to nondepressed subjects, using the typical levels of processing manipulation. The results of this study show the existence of a mood-congruent memory bias for both implicit and explicit memory in depressed subjects. The theoretical implications of these findings for implicit and explicit memory biases associated with depressed mood are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), Ciudad Universitaria, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    José A. Ruiz-Caballero

  2. Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Spain

    Piedad González

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  1. José A. Ruiz-Caballero
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  2. Piedad González
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Ruiz-Caballero, J.A., González, P. Effects of Level of Processing on Implicit and Explicit Memory in Depressed Mood. Motivation and Emotion 21, 195–209 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024438701205

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