Fear-related state dependent memory

State dependent memory (SDM) refers to superior performance when informatio n is retrieved in the same emotional state in which it was learned. Certain conditions generate this effect more reliably-including internal learning tasks, cue-free retrieval, and strong, stable emotional states with associa ted arousal. This study assesses whether SDM occurs in relation to states o f fear and relaxation when these conditions are in place. We induced fear o r relaxation in spider- or snake-fearful undergraduate participants (N = 54 ). Those who were in the same state during learning and later retrieval rec alled more learned words than did those who were in different states on the two occasions. This provides support for the existence of SDM under certai n constraints.