Measuring Effectiveness of Memory through Affect

Khamis Faraj Alarabi , Abdul Wahab

Department of Computer Science, KICT, IIUM P.O. Box 10, 50728 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Kf_alarabi@yahoo.com abdualwahab@iium.edu.my
ABSTRACT The efforts to measure memory effectiveness have been since years on the top of research not only in psychology but in cognitive science and engineering as well. Much work has been done to measure both types of memory, explicit and implicit. According to H. Roediger III, explicit memory can be measured by explicit (or direct) tests such as free recall and recognition, which reflect conscious recollection of the past, while implicit (or indirect) tests such as word-stem completion and word fragment completion are used to test implicit memory, where they can measure the transfer (or priming) from past experience on tasks that do not need Conscious recollection of recent task to perform. Since emotions have a great influence on effectiveness of memory and they could be measured using EEG signals in terms of valence and arousal, this poster paper proposes new techniques that focus on how TITLE HEADER memory effectiveness can be measured through dynamic emotions. In this experimental study, four postgraduate students from KICT were chosen to participate in the experiments to measure their memory effectiveness during memory tests. Participants brain signals were collected using EEG machine. Digital signal processing techniques were applied to EEG data to detect participants TEXT emotions and emotion trajectory that reflects effectiveness of their memories. Preliminary results of the experiments showed potential of using electroencephalogram (EEG) in measuring the effectiveness of memory through affect. Key words: Implicit memory, Memory test, Emotion recognition, Affect, Memory effectiveness. Human memory Memory is divided into: 1- Sensory memory, which has limited capacity and last for 0.3 sec. 2- STM, which has limited 5+/-2 capacity and last for 3 sec. 3- LTM, which has unlimited capacity/time and divided into: Declarative (explicit or conscious) memory. Non-declarative ( implicit or unconscious) memory. Memory tests There are two types of memory tests: 1- Direct ( or explicit) test, such as Free recall, that used to measure explicit memory. 2- Indirect (or implicit) test, such as word-stem completion, that used to measure implicit memory. Emotion recognition & emotion impact on memory

Arousal-Valence model

Arousal-Performance curve

Emotions can be mapped using two-dimensional (valencearousal ) scaling to classify the emotion experience. Using such model, four emotions (Fear, Happy, Sad and Calm) can be recognized.

Results Preliminary results of this work showed that memory effectiveness is notably influenced by emotions. The emotion trajectory over valence-arousal map is related to memory effectiveness, which is reflected in subjects response. The highest arousal the highest memory effectiveness . Conclusion Preliminary results of our experiments showed a potential of using electroencephalogram (EEG) in measuring the effectiveness of memory through affect.

References
1- Frank, J.& C. Tomaz, Enhancement of declarative memory associated with emotional content in Brazilian sample, Brazilian Journal of medical and biological research, 33:1483-1489, 2000. 2- Lewis, M. et al., Handbook of emotion, the Guilford press, London, 3rd ed., 2008. 3- Roediger, H., Implicit memory: retention without remembering , American psychologist, 45, 1043-1056.1990.

Postgraduate Students Colloquium (PGSC) 2013