Effects of valence and arousal on written word recognition: Time course and ERP correlates

► Emotionally valenced words are given processing priority compared to neutral words. ► This priority is reflected in behavioural as well as ERP measures. ► A trend towards a significant interaction of valence and arousal was found. ► The trend towards an interaction appears at early, implicit proce...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neuroscience letters 2013-01, Vol.533, p.90-95
Main Authors: Citron, Francesca M.M., Weekes, Brendan S., Ferstl, Evelyn C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Arousal
Brain Mapping
Emotions
EPN
ERP
Evoked Potentials
Female
Form Perception
Humans
Lexical decision
LPC
Male
Pattern Recognition, Visual
Recognition (Psychology)
Semantics
Slow positivity
Time Factors
Valence
Word processing
Young Adult
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Summary:► Emotionally valenced words are given processing priority compared to neutral words. ► This priority is reflected in behavioural as well as ERP measures. ► A trend towards a significant interaction of valence and arousal was found. ► The trend towards an interaction appears at early, implicit processing stages. ► Apparently, arousal modulates valence differently in positive and negative words. Models of affect assume a two-dimensional framework, composed of emotional valence and arousal. Although neuroimaging evidence supports a neuro-functional distinction of their effects during single word processing, electrophysiological studies have not yet compared the effects of arousal within the same category of valence (positive and negative). Here we investigate effects of arousal and valence on written lexical decision. Amplitude differences between emotion and neutral words were seen in the early posterior negativity (EPN), the late positive complex and in a sustained slow positivity. In addition, trends towards interactive effects of valence and arousal were observed in the EPN, showing larger amplitude for positive, high-arousal and negative, low-arousal words. The results provide initial evidence for interactions between arousal and valence during processing of positive words and highlight the importance of both variables in studies of emotional stimulus processing.
ISSN:0304-3940
1872-7972
DOI:10.1016/j.neulet.2012.10.054