Preceding positive emotional contexts and subsequent-memory ERP differences for neutral words

Emotional experiences may influence memory for subsequently encountered information. We examined whether preceding positive emotional contexts differing in arousal were associated with subsequent-memory ERP differences for independently presented neutral words. Thirty-two participants completed a three-context, within-participant study–recognition task; 27 contributed to the primary ERP analyses. Each study block used one picture-context category; block order varied, while word-list roles and context assignments were fixed. Words appeared 400 ms after picture offset. We analyzed recognition, effective-response signal-detection indices and supplementary total-trial-denominator indices, correct reaction times, encoding ERPs at 120–170 and 400–600 ms, and retrieval FN400/LPC effects. An encoding sensitivity analysis compared hits with explicit misses, excluding no-response trials. In the 400–600-ms frontocentral window, the context × subsequent-memory interaction was nonsignificant after Holm correction across seven candidate encoding windows, both in the primary analysis ( p = 0.089) and in the explicit-miss sensitivity analysis ( p = 0.051). Exploratory within-window contrasts yielded a larger positive low-arousal subsequent-memory difference (DM) than the high-arousal and neutral DMs (within-window Holm-adjusted ps = 0.031 and 0.040), with a similar explicit-miss pattern. Direct early-versus-late comparisons were also nonsignificant (primary p = 0.119; sensitivity p = 0.059). Effective-response signal-detection indices, outcome-level recognition rates, and reaction times showed no reliable context differences. During retrieval, an FN400 effect was detected across contexts, with nonsignificant context modulation and LPC effects. Candidate-window-corrected analyses did not provide clear evidence that subsequent-memory ERP contrasts differed across contexts. Exploratory 400–600-ms estimates suggested a larger positive low-arousal contrast, without a detected behavioral memory advantage. These estimates require prospectively specified replication with counterbalanced word-list roles and context assignments.