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COLUMBIA, MO -- Are you forgetful? Typically in a good mood? New research shows the two may be connected.

A study at the University of Missouri by a doctoral student in psychology showed that forgetfulness could be connected to your mood.

The study, conducted by Elizabeth Martin, found that being in a good mood decreases your working memory capacity.

“Working memory, for example, is the ability to recall items in a conversation as you are having it,” Martin said. “This explains why you might not be able to remember a phone number you get at a party when you are having a good time. This research is the first to show that positive mood can negatively impact working memory storage capacity. This shows that although systems in the brain are connected, it is possible to affect one process but not others.”

During the study, researchers gauged study participants’ moods before and after showing them a video clip. Some were shown video from a stand-up comedy routine. Others watched an instructional video showing how to install flooring. Researchers said those who saw the comedy routine were in a better mood after watching their video.

They also performed significantly worse on a memory test after the videos. The test gave the participants numbers in a rapid order and then asked them to remember the last six numbers in order.

“While working storage memory is decreased, being in a good mood is not all bad,” Martin said. “Being in a good mood has been shown to increase creative problem-solving skills and other aspects of thinking.”

Martin suggested future research should test the impact of the findings in a real-life situations, like a classroom setting.

The study was published in the journal Cognition and Emotion earlier this year.