Abstract
<p>Boundary extension is a frequently observed phenomenon whereby an individual reports remembering more of a scene than they actually saw. Studies with adults have shown that the magnitude of boundary extension differs for scenes of emotional content and between individuals with varying mental health status. We provide the first investigation of boundary extension for emotional scenes in adolescents. Adolescents at high (n=200, Mage= 17.13, SD=.61, 83% female, 2% other) and low (n=119, Mage=17.04, SD=.55, 78.2% female) risk of affective disorders (depression, anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) completed a Camera Distance Task with positive, negative, and neutral images containing both human and non-human central objects. Across all participants, the boundaries of positive and negative images were extended more than those of neutral images. While images containing human central objects were extended less overall than those containing objects, the effect of valence was greater for scenes with humans. Effects did not differ as a function of mental health risk status or disorder-specific symptoms. Results suggest that it is the valence and content of stimuli that influence boundary extension in adolescents, irrespective of mental health status.</p>