International journal of psychophysiology : official journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology
-
Int J Psychophysiol · Mar 2011
Effects of recent word exposure on emotion-word Stroop interference: an ERP study.
Attentional bias towards emotional linguistic material has been examined extensively with the emotion-word Stroop task. Although findings in clinical groups show an interference effect of emotional words that relate to the specific concern of the group, findings concerning healthy groups are less clear. In the present study, we investigated whether emotional Stroop interference in healthy individuals is affected by exposure of the words prior to the task. ⋯ The N400 was less negative for exposed than for new words, but this effect did not interact with the emotional valence of the words. For new (i.e., unexposed) words, the behavioural Stroop interference correlated with the P290, N400 and LPP emotion effects (negative minus neutral words). The successive ERP components suggest better prelexical, semantic, and sustained attentional processing of emotion words, even when the emotional content of the words is task-irrelevant.
-
The EMG activity associated with static and dynamic facial expressions (morphs with happy or angry emotions) were compared. We hypothesized that dynamic faces would (a) enhance facial muscular reactions and (b) evoke higher intensity ratings. ⋯ In contrast, angry faces evoked no alteration of EMG activity in zygomaticus muscles and only small changes in the corrugator muscle EMG, and there was no difference between the responses to static and dynamic stimuli. It may be concluded that the dynamic property facilitates processing of facial expressions of emotions.
-
Int J Psychophysiol · Nov 2010
Comparative StudyBetter than the real thing: eliciting fear with moving and static computer-generated stimuli.
As the popularity of virtual reality as an exposure therapy increases, it is important to validate the use of computer-generated stimuli in comparison to standardized images of "real" phobic objects, such as those of the International Affective Picture System (IAPS). The present study examined physiological and subjective measures of negative affect when viewing static IAPS images, static computer-generated images and moving videos of computer-generated images of feared stimuli and other negative stimuli which were not specifically feared. For example, a picture of a spider would be a "feared" stimulus for a spider fearful participant, whereas a picture of a snake would be categorized as a "negative" stimulus for that participant. ⋯ Computer-generated stills and IAPS images did not differ in eliciting emotional responses. Additionally, HF participants showed greater heart rate acceleration and larger skin conductance responses to their feared stimulus than to the negative stimulus, especially when viewing computer-generated moving videos. The results demonstrate the importance of motion in eliciting fear and the usefulness of computer-generated stimuli in the study of emotion.
-
Int J Psychophysiol · Sep 2010
Characterization of anatomical and functional connectivity in the brain: a complex networks perspective.
A central question in modern neuroscience is how anatomical and functional connections between brain areas are organized to allow optimal information processing. In particular, both segregation and integration of information have to be dealt with in a single architecture of brain networks. There is strong evidence that synchronization of neural activity, both locally and between distant regions is a crucial code for functional interactions. ⋯ In addition, network topology has been shown to be highly heritable, and very predictive of cognitive functioning. A short path length, which implies that from any area in the brain any other area can be reached in a small number of steps, is strongly correlated with IQ. Computational models are now beginning to reveal how the complex structure of adult brain networks could arise during development.
-
Int J Psychophysiol · Apr 2010
Attentional bias to negative emotion as a function of approach and withdrawal anger styles: an ERP investigation.
Although models of emotion have focused on the relationship between anger and approach motivation associated with aggression, anger is also related to withdrawal motivation. Anger-out and anger-in styles are associated with psychopathology and may disrupt the control of attention within the context of negatively valenced information. The present study used event-related brain potentials (ERPs) to examine whether anger styles uniquely predict attentional bias to negative stimuli during an emotion-word Stroop task. ⋯ In contrast, high anger-in predicted smaller N400 amplitude to negative words, indicating that negative information may be readily available (primed) for anger suppressors, requiring fewer resources. Individuals with an anger-out style might benefit from being directed away from provocative stimuli that might otherwise consume their attention and foster overt aggression. Findings indicating that anger-out and anger-in were associated with divergent patterns of brain activity provide support for distinguishing approach- and withdrawal-related anger styles.