Effects of Contextual Emotional Valence on Non-word Learning in MCI and Normal Elderly Adults

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the effects of emotional valence (positive or negative) in contextual sentences on non-word learning in older adults. Specifically, it sought to determine whether emotional context could sensitively reflect cognitive differences between older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and cognitively healthy controls. The study further explored the potential of emotion-based learning tasks as tools for early detection and intervention in cognitive decline. Methods: Thirty-one Korean-speaking older adults (15 with MCI, 16 cognitively healthy controls) participated in the study. Participants were asked to infer the meanings of non-words embedded in emotionally valenced sentences and to judge whether the non-words matched the meanings of actual words. Accuracy and reaction time were recorded as primary measures of performance. Results: The MCI group showed overall lower accuracy and slower responses compared to the control group. The control group demonstrated higher accuracy in positive contexts, while the MCI group showed minimal performance differences across emotional contexts. In the control group, greater accuracy was associated with faster reaction times, suggesting efficient cognitive processing. In contrast, in the MCI group, working memory was significantly related to task performance only in negative contexts. Accuracy in positive contexts was the key variable distinguishing the two groups. Conclusion: Positive emotional context appears to facilitate non-word learning and serves as a sensitive marker for early cognitive decline. These findings highlight the potential of emotion-based language tasks for early screening and intervention in aging populations.