title: Unconscious memory bias in depression: perceptual and conceptual processes.
abstract: Mood-congruent memory (MCM) bias in depression was investigated using 4 different implicit memory tests. Two of the implicit tests were perceptually driven, and 2 were conceptually driven. Depressed participants and nondepressed controls were assigned to 1 of 4 implicit memory tests after studying positive and negative adjectives. Results showed no MCM bias in the perceptually driven tests. MCM was demonstrated in 1 of the conceptually driven tests, but only for adjectives that were conceptually encoded. Results support the theory that mood-congruent processes in depression are limited to conceptual processing. However, activation of conceptual processes may not be sufficient for demonstrating mood congruency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Eastern Washington University, Cheney 99004-2431, USA. philip.watkins@mail.ewu.edu
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Watkins
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Stern
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D003210:Concept Formation; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D019263:Dysthymic Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D011939:Mental Recall; D010465:Perception; D014473:Unconscious, Psychology; D014936:Word Association Tests