You Are Here: Previous Issues Volume 17, Issue 2, July – December 2024 → Tears, Joy, and Recall: The Emotional Chemistry of Memory

OPEN ACCESS PEER-REVIEWED

Conceptual Study – Published: December 27, 2024


Tears, Joy, and Recall: The Emotional Chemistry of Memory

Mrs. Selvi Anita Mary.G
ABSTRACT
Memory is not a passive record of events but an emotionally driven process shaped by the interplay of brain structures and neurochemicals. This article explores how emotions such as joy, fear, and sadness influence memory formation, consolidation, and retrieval. The amygdala and hippocampus, along with neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and cortisol, act as key mediators in strengthening or distorting memories. Positive emotions enhance learning and cognitive flexibility, while negative emotions can create vivid flashbulb memories or fragmented recollections in cases of trauma. The paper also highlights the broader role of emotional memory in identity, therapy, mental health, and social connection. Ultimately, emotions serve as both the glue and the filter of memory, shaping not only what we remember but also how those memories guide our behaviour and resilience.
Keywords: Emotion, Memory, Emotional Arousal, Recall, Emotional Chemistry
This is an Open Access Research distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any Medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
How to cite this article: Selvi Anita Mary, G. (2024). Tears, joy, and recall: The emotional chemistry of memory. Indian Educational Researcher, 17 (2), 48–54. https://doi.org/10.34293/0974-2123.v17n2.006
Received: October 07, 2024; Revision Received: November 09, 2024; Accepted: December 27, 2024.