Which principle suggests that emotional states during learning can influence later memory retrieval?

The principle that emotional states during learning can influence later memory retrieval is known as state dependency. This principle asserts that memories are more easily recalled when an individual is in the same emotional or physiological state as when the memory was originally formed. For instance, if a person learns something while feeling happy, they may find it easier to recall that information when they are in a similar happy state later on.

While mood can significantly affect cognitive processes, it is considered a broader concept that encompasses general emotional states rather than specifically dealing with the retrieval of memories in relation to the emotional state at the time of learning. Context refers to the environmental cues present during the encoding of information that can aid in later retrieval, but it does not specifically link emotional states to memory retrieval. Priming involves the activation of certain associations in memory, which can influence the retrieval process, but it primarily focuses on the prior exposure to stimuli rather than the emotional state during learning.

Therefore, state dependency captures the unique interaction between emotional states during learning and the ease of retrieving those memories later, making it the most precise answer to the question.