Effects of Emotions on Voluntary Attentional Shifts in a Cue-Target Paradigm

Abstract

Abstract: This study tested the effects of the emotions on attentional shift using cue-target paradigm. 68 university students participated the experiment. The emotions were induced by 4 emotional videos, two of which were for positive emotions and the other two for negative emotions. Cue-target task was used to test attentional shift ability which means the ability to shift attention from one focus to another. Participants responded to a visual target preceded by a cue. Validity effect is the dependent variable. It is calculated as RT(invalid trials)-RT(valid trials). After a short time of practice, they were asked to watch one of the four videos randomly and induced positive or negative emotion. And then, they finished the experimental task. The results indicated that emotions had a significant influence on the validity effects: Participants didn′t show any validity effects in positive emotion, but the effects were significant among negative participants. That meant positive emotions promoted attentional shift but negative emotions reduced it. The main results of the present study are interpreted that positive emotions promoted attention shift, and negative emotions hindered attention shift.

Key words: positive emotions, negative emotions, cue-target paradigm.

摘要： 大量研究表明情绪状态会影响认知灵活性。本研究运用情绪影片片段作为情绪诱发的手段，以68名女大学生为被试，采用线索-提示任务范式考察了不同情绪效价（积极、消极）对认知灵活性重要成分之一注意定向转换的影响。结果发现，对于有效提示，积极情绪和消极情绪两种条件下的反应时差异不显著；对于无效提示，积极情绪下的反应时显著快于消极情绪；而且，积极情绪下的线索有效性效应不显著，但消极情绪下表现出显著的线索有效性效应。实验结果说明，积极情绪有助于注意定向的转换，消极情绪延缓了注意定向的转换。这一结果进一步支持了积极情绪扩展认知范围，而消极情绪缩窄认知范围的观点。

关键词: 积极情绪, 消极情绪, 线索－提示任务。

CLC Number:

B842.6

Wang Yanmei, Zeng Yuqin. Effects of Emotions on Voluntary Attentional Shifts in a Cue-Target Paradigm[J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2015, 13(4): 456-460.

王艳梅, 曾于秦. 线索—提示任务下情绪对注意转换的影响*[J]. 心理与行为研究, 2015, 13(4): 456-460.

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