Is there evidence for an emotion-related bias in verbal learning or memory in individuals putatively high at risk for mania?

The role of negative mood induction on working memory capacity in individuals putatively at risk for bipolar disorder: A pilot study

“…Looking at risk for mania, contrary to two previous studies which did not provide evidence for cognitive deficits in individuals putatively at risk for BD (Lex and Meyer, 2013;Meyer and Blechert, 2005) in the present study individuals scoring high on the HPS reacted more slowly during the DTP task, in reaction to congruent and incongruent stimuli relative to neutral ones, but were faster than individuals scoring low on the HPS for neutral stimuli. This finding is on the one hand consistent with Fockert et al (2001)'s study where a higher cognitive load and stimuli incongruency negatively affected response times.…”

“…However, many prior studies found higher levels of subthreshold depressive symptoms to be associated with higher HPS scores (French et al, 1996;Johnson and Jones, 2009;Lex and Meyer, 2013;Meyer and Blechert, 2005). Furthermore, individuals at high risk for BD only differed from those at low risk in the neutral stimulus condition by showing faster response times, and there were no differences in error rates at all.…”

“…Many studies relied on larger screening samples to recruit from chose either the top 10% of the score distribution or M þ2 S.D. as criterion to qualify as at-risk (Kwapil et al, 2000;Lex and Meyer, 2013). Nevertheless, many studies using the HPS have adopted a dimensional approach and reported results in line with the idea of the HPS being a valid indicator of vulnerability for BD (Johnson and Carver, 2012;Meyer et al, 2011;Meyer and Keller, 2003).…”

Modulation of the N400 component in relation to hypomanic personality traits in a word meaning ambiguity resolution task

“…The exploration of the cognitive functioning of high HPS scores is growing and helps to progress in the comprehension of BD, with some of these studies suggesting continuity in the problems experienced by those at high risk for BD and those diagnosed with BD. Some even suggest that the knowledge derived from these studies helps in the assessment of early interventions in participants at risk of developing the disorder by, for example, training the patients to make less impulsive decisions, which might prevent them from a progression on the bipolar spectrum …”