Form Pleasantness: Arousal Processing or Arousal Pick-up?

1987 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 203-216
Author(s):  
G. J. F. Smets ◽  
C. J. Overbeeke
Keyword(s):  
Direct Effect ◽  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Visual Stimuli ◽  
Physiological Arousal ◽  
Direct Result ◽  
Pleasantness Rating ◽  
Arousal Theory ◽  
Cognitive Arousal ◽  
Arousal Response ◽  
Indirect Information

In what way is physiological arousal implicated in form pleasantness? Does form pleasantness necessarily imply cognitive processing of the arousal response to the visual stimuli? Or can the physiological arousal response also have a direct effect on it? This problem has scientific relevance since it contributes to the settlement of two debates of a similar nature: one between two rival theories of perception and one between two rival theories of emotion. The two theories of perception are the indirect information-processing one as stated by Fodor and Pylyshyn in 1981 versus the direct information pick-up viewpoint as stated by Turvey, Shaw, Reed, and Mace in 1981. The two theories of emotion are the indirect cognition-arousal theory which begins with Schachter in 1964 versus the view that emotions can be the direct result of purely somatic arousal and emotion patterns as stated both by Zajonc and Leventhal in 1984. This is explained in the first part of the article. The second part describes an experiment on the conflicting consequences of these two approaches (the indirect, cognitive and the direct sensory-motor). An inverted U-shaped relation between the arousal potential of visual stimuli and the pleasantness rating of those stimuli is usually found. If the supporters of the direct theories are right, this will always be so however much one tries to manipulate arousal processing. If, on the other hand the cognitivists are right, it would be indeed possible to manipulate the curve. This can be done, for example, by giving the subject bogus feedback relating to his physiological arousal in response to the visual stimuli, under well controlled conditions. This is a much used procedure in the cognitive-arousal theory of emotion. According to the results of the present experiment, this manipulation does not affect the inverted U-shaped relation between the arousal potential of visual stimuli and their pleasantness rating. A direct effect of physiological arousal on form pleasantness appears plausible.

scholarly journals Phalangeal curvature in a chimpanzee raised like a human: Implications for inferring arboreality in fossil hominins

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (21) ◽  
pp. 11223-11225
Author(s):  
Ian J. Wallace ◽  
M. Loring Burgess ◽  
Biren A. Patel
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
New York City ◽  
Direct Effect ◽  
York City ◽  
Important Implication ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Direct Result ◽  
Mechanical Loads ◽  
Ancestral Species ◽  
Fossil Hominins

Arboreal primates such as chimpanzees exhibit pronounced curvature in their hand and foot phalanges, which is assumed to develop throughout life in response to mechanical loads produced by grasping and hanging from branches. Intriguingly, ancient fossil hominins also exhibit substantial phalangeal curvature, which, too, has been interpreted as a direct result of habitual arboreality during life. Here, we describe the phalangeal curvature of a chimpanzee who was raised during the 1930s in New York City to live much like a human, including by having very few opportunities to engage in arboreal activities. We show that the degree of hand and foot phalangeal curvature in this individual is indistinguishable from that of wild chimpanzees and distinct from humans. Thus, rather than being a direct effect of mechanical loads produced by lifetime arboreal activities, phalangeal curvature appears to be shaped largely by genetic factors. An important implication of this finding is that phalangeal curvature among fossil hominins is evidently best interpreted as a primitive trait inherited from an arboreal ancestral species rather than proof of engagement in arboreal activities during life.

Arousal response with aging: Pupillographic study

2000 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 348-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
MANHO KIM ◽  
DAVID Q. BEVERSDORF ◽  
KENNETH M. HEILMAN
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Cortex ◽  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Pupil Size ◽  
Visual Stimuli ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Cognitive Behaviors ◽  
Pupillary Responses ◽  
Arousal Response

The performance of cognitive behaviors requires an activated, aroused cerebral cortex. Although studies have shown that there are decrements of cognitive functions in the elderly, changes in arousal with aging have not been fully studied. Our objective was to learn if there are attention–arousal changes associated with aging. Visual stimuli were presented to induce orienting responses or arousal reactions. Because changes in pupil size reflect changes in arousal, we recorded and compared pupillary responses of young and older normal participants using infared pupillography. During the 1 s that we recorded pupillary changes, we found major phases: a brief initial constriction (C1), then a maximal dilation (D1)—an arousal response, followed by constriction (C2), a habituation response. Although amplitude of these 3 phases was not different between the 2 groups, the interval between the D1 and C2 response was prolonged in the older group. Although the arousal response is not dramatically altered with aging, habituation appears to be delayed. (JINS, 2000, 6, 348–350.)

Cognitive processing of information on varied physiological arousal

1971 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Bloemkolk ◽  
P. Defares ◽  
G. Van Enckevort ◽  
W. Van Gelderen
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Physiological Arousal

Activation of the arousal response and impairment of performance increase with anxiety and stressor intensity

2001 ◽  
Vol 91 (5) ◽  
pp. 2093-2101 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Timothy Noteboom ◽  
Kerry R. Barnholt ◽  
Roger M. Enoka
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Trait Anxiety ◽  
Electrodermal Activity ◽  
Physiological Arousal ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Anxiety Group ◽  
Electric Shocks ◽  
Group 5 ◽  
Arousal Response ◽  
And Control

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of trait anxiety and stressor intensity on arousal and motor performance during a pinch task. We examined the steadiness of a precision task in the presence and absence of an imposed stressor on subjects with moderate and low trait anxiety. Subjects with the 26 highest and 14 lowest anxiety scores were assigned to one of three groups: a control group (5 women, 5 men), a moderate-anxiety group (8 women, 8 men), or a low-anxiety group (7 women, 7 men). Subjects in the anxiety groups received electric shocks and experienced significant increases in cognitive and physiological arousal compared with baseline and control subjects, especially subjects in the moderate-anxiety group. Heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and electrodermal activity were elevated during the stressor, whereas diastolic blood pressure was unchanged. Cognitive and physiological arousal tended to increase with stressor intensity and was accompanied by changes in steadiness. Although steadiness was markedly reduced with the highest intensity of shock, the average electromyogram activity was unaffected by the stressor. These findings indicate that the increase in arousal and the impairment of steadiness increased with trait anxiety and with the intensity of the noxious stimulus.

Cognitive processing of visual stimuli in patients with organophosphate insecticide poisoning

Neurology ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 68 (23) ◽  
pp. 2027-2030 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Dassanayake ◽  
V. Weerasinghe ◽  
U. Dangahadeniya ◽  
K. Kularatne ◽  
A. Dawson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Visual Stimuli ◽  
Organophosphate Insecticide

Lower Extremity Open Skill Training Effects on Perception of Visual Stimuli, Cognitive Processing, and Performance

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Tobias Engeroff ◽  
Florian Giesche ◽  
David Friebe ◽  
Jan Wilke ◽  
Lutz Vogt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Skill Training ◽  
Visual Stimuli ◽  
Training Effects ◽  
And Performance

The Wrongfulness of Wrongly Interpreting Wrongfulness: Provocation, Interpretational Bias, and Heat of Passion Homicide

2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reid Griffith Fontaine
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Dysfunction ◽  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Emotionally Disturbed ◽  
Emotional State ◽  
Moral Dilemma ◽  
Direct Result ◽  
Cognitive Difficulties ◽  
Logical Inconsistency ◽  
Emotional Dysfunction ◽  
Rational Thought

In U.S. criminal law, a defendant charged with murder can invoke the heat of passion defense, an affirmative, partial-excuse defense so that he may be instead found guilty of the lesser crime of manslaughter. This defense requires the defendant to demonstrate that he was significantly provoked and, as a direct result of the provocation, became extremely emotionally disturbed and committed the killing while in this uncontrolled emotional state. In this way, the law makes a partial allowance for emotional dysfunction——the wrongfulness of the homicide is mitigated when the emotionally charged reactivity restricts the actor's capacity for rational thought and reasoned behavior. However, the defense makes no such allowance for cognitive dysfunction, despite the widely replicated finding in psychology that violent reactivity is associated with distorted cognitive processing. In particular, reactive violence is often attributed, in part, to provocation interpretational bias——a set of cognitive difficulties by which certain ambiguous-provocation situations are interpreted as intentional, hostile, and wrongful by the reacting aggressor. The present paper discusses how affording a partial excuse for emotional——but not cognitive——dysfunction poses both a logical inconsistency and a moral dilemma for American provocation law. Recommendations for reframing the heat of passion doctrine and resolving these issues are made. Provocation law is all about emotions, most notably anger.

Analysis of Eyeblink Activity during Discriminative Tasks

1994 ◽  
Vol 79 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 1599-1608 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyosuke Fukuda
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Discriminative Stimulus ◽  
Auditory Stimulus ◽  
Visual Stimuli ◽  
Temporal Distribution ◽  
Auditory Discrimination ◽  
Baseline Condition ◽  
Auditory Task ◽  
Blink Rate ◽  
Videotape Recording

To evaluate the blinking pattern during and after cognitive processing, 10 subjects' eyeblinks were recorded by a videotape recording camera placed 100 cm from the subjects' side. The subjects' task was to discriminate two kinds of auditory tones presented serially and to discriminate two kinds of visual stimuli presented serially. Treatments were composed of the baseline condition preexperiment, the visual task with no discrimination, the visual discriminative task, the auditory task with no discrimination, and the auditory discriminative task. The blink rate in each treatment, the temporal distribution of blinks poststimulus, and the blink waveform were evaluated. Although blinks were not inhibited during tasks, frequent blinks after tasks were observed in both modalities. Blinks concentrated between 300 msec. and 800 msec. after the discriminated stimulus and formulated the blink-rate peak. The closing velocity of lid in the blink rate peak was lower after auditory stimulus. Moreover, the lid's opening velocity after the auditory discrimination was higher. These results indicated that the eyelid closed slowly and opened quickly after the auditory discriminative stimulus.

scholarly journals Do Personality Traits Modulate the Effect of Emotional Visual Stimuli on Auditory Information Processing?

2009 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Solange Mardaga ◽  
Michel Hansenne
Keyword(s):  
Information Processing ◽  
Personality Traits ◽  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Behavioral Activation ◽  
Visual Stimuli ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Auditory Information ◽  
Behavioral Inhibition System ◽  
Personality Dimensions ◽  
Auditory Information Processing

Several lines of evidence attest robust relationships between personality dimensions and emotions, including cognitive aspect of emotion. More particularly, many studies reported strong relationships between extraversion, the behavioral activation system (BAS), and the cognitive processing of positive information, on the one hand, and between neuroticism, the behavioral inhibition system (BIS), and the processing of negative information, on the other hand. Recently, DePascalis, Awari, Matteucci, and Mazzocco (2005 ) reported that personality traits modulated the effect of the emotional visual stimuli on the mismatch negativity (MMN). The aim of the present study was to replicate these data and extend them to other personality dimensions. Auditory MMN was recorded in normal subjects simultaneously to the presentation of emotional pictures selected as neutral, positive, or negative from the International Affective Picture System, and presented in randomized order. The results support the recent finding that personality (namely, BIS and harm avoidance) modulates the influence of emotional (negative) context on auditory information processing. The present findings suggest that the modulation by personality of change detection in the unattended environment as a function of context valence is limited to unpleasant context.

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