How we walk affects what we remember: Gait modifications through biofeedback change negative affective memory bias

• We used biofeedback to manipulate the walking pattern of participants towards a more happy or a more depressed style.
• Changing the gait pattern in that way has effects on affective memory bias.
• Participants manipulated to walk in a more happy way recalled a higher proportion of positive self-relevant material.
• Changing gait patterns is suggested as a means to foster a more balanced processing of information in depressed patients.

Background and objectsSeveral studies have shown that physical exercise such as walking has effects on depression. These studies have focused on increasing intensity and amount of physical activity. In the present study, we investigated whether not only the intensity but also the style of physical activity affects depression related processes.MethodUsing an unobtrusive biofeedback technique, we manipulated participants (39 undergraduates) to change their walking patterns to either reflect the characteristics of depressed patients or a particularly happy walking style. The intensity of walking (i.e. walking speed) was held constant across condition. During walking, participants first encoded and later recalled a series of emotionally loaded terms.ResultsThe difference between recalled positive and recalled negative words was much lower in participants who adopted a depressed walking style as compared to participants who walked as if they were happy.LimitationsThe effects of gait manipulation were investigated in a non-clinical group of undergraduates.ConclusionsThe observed change in memory bias supports the idea that beyond the intensity of walking the style of walking has effects on the vulnerability to depression.