Positive emotions boost learning, study shows

A new study published in the Journal of Neuroscience finds that people retain information better when they learn in a positive emotional state.

Researchers from Hangzhou Normal University and Nanjing Normal University in China found that positive feelings during learning sessions led to more consistent neural patterns in the brain across multiple lessons, offering new insight into how emotions shape learning.

The study: To investigate the impact of emotions on memory, the researchers tested their theory by monitoring participants as they completed learning tasks while undergoing functional MRI scans. Some sessions included cues such as music or images to encourage positive emotions, while others did not.

The results showed that when people learned in a happy state, their brains formed stable neural activation patterns that were consistent across sessions. These consistent neural patterns were directly linked to better recall and understanding of the material over time.

Implications for memory and education: The findings build on growing evidence that positive emotions broaden attention and cognitive processing, helping learners form richer and more detailed memories. While negative emotions often narrow focus and restrict the brain’s ability to take in context, positive feelings appear to create an optimal state for learning.

For students, maintaining a positive mindset while studying could lead to better retention. In the classroom, fostering a supportive and upbeat environment may be more important for academic success than previously recognized.