scholarly journals Evidence for subjective emotional numbing following induced acute dissociation

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ga In Shin ◽  
Laura H Goldstein ◽  
Susannah Pick
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Processing ◽  
Emotional Numbing ◽  
Post Induction ◽  
Induction Group ◽  
Dissociative States ◽  
Valence And Arousal ◽  
Mirror Gazing ◽  
State Dissociation ◽  
Emotional Responsivity ◽  
Positive Stimuli

The aim of the study was to examine the effects of acute dissociation on emotional responsivity in healthy individuals. We used a previously validated technique (mirror-gazing, Caputo, 2010) to experimentally induce acute dissociation in non-clinical participants and assessed post-induction subjective responsivity (ratings of valence and arousal) to standardized emotional images. Fifty non-clinical participants were randomised to either the dissociation induction (n=25) or control conditions (n=25). The dissociation manipulation effect was corroborated by a significant post-induction elevation in state dissociation in the dissociation-induction group relative to controls (p=.004). The dissociation-induction group rated negative (p=.028) and neutral (p=.025) stimuli as significantly less unpleasant than controls. There was also a non-significant trend for positive stimuli to be rated as less pleasant by the dissociation-induction group compared to controls (p=.060). These findings provide experimental evidence for the short-term alleviation (i.e., emotional numbing) of negative affect during dissociative states, which may serve as a coping mechanism for some individuals. However, this tendency of emotional numbing also reduced positive affective responses to pleasant stimuli to some extent. Further investigation of dissociative phenomena and their impact on emotional processing appears warranted.

scholarly journals Understanding the cognitive differences in psychopathy: Emotional distraction across psychopathic traits

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Conor Bryant
Keyword(s):  
Attention Deficit ◽  
Emotional Processing ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Psychopathic Personality ◽  
Perceptual Task ◽  
Emotional Stimuli ◽  
Cognitive Differences ◽  
Impact Performance ◽  
Valence And Arousal ◽  
Emotional Distraction

<p>Emotional stimuli naturally draw our attention. In emotional distraction paradigms, such stimuli can interrupt performance on a simple cognitive task. There are, however, individual differences in the extent to which emotional distractors impact performance. Previous research has found that highly psychopathic people perform better than others in these tasks, indicating that they are less distracted by emotional stimuli. We tested two separate accounts of the cognitive differences in psychopathy. Emotional processing accounts believe the deficit is specific to processing of aversive stimuli. Conversely, the Attention deficit accounts suggest the deficit is rather ineffective processing of peripheral information. To tease these hypotheses apart we investigated emotional distraction using positive and negative peripheral distractors. Negative distraction but not positive distraction should be reduced if emotional processing accounts are correct; all types of distraction should be reduced for Attention-deficit accounts. The current study employs an emotional distraction paradigm that includes peripheral task-irrelevant distractors that vary in valence and arousal. We measured trait psychopathy using the Psychopathic Personality Inventory in a university sample and grouped participants into low, intermediate, or high Fearless Dominance groups. Participants (N = 83) were instructed to ignore distracting images (positive, negative, or neutral) in the periphery while completing a simple perceptual task at fixation. Participants low in Fearless Dominance showed greater distraction by emotional stimuli than neutral stimuli. In contrast, those high in Fearless Dominance showed no greater distraction by emotional than neutral stimuli. The findings suggest there is no fear-specific deficit in psychopathy, instead, we see an overall decrease in emotional distraction for those high in Fearless Dominance. This finding also supports attention-deficit accounts, however, distraction by neutral stimuli was not associated with Fearless Dominance indicating the reduced distraction is specific to emotional stimuli.</p>

scholarly journals A Framework Combining Delta Event-Related Oscillations (EROs) and Synchronisation Effects (ERD/ERS) to Study Emotional Processing

2009 ◽  
Vol 2009 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manousos A. Klados ◽  
Christos Frantzidis ◽  
Ana B. Vivas ◽  
Christos Papadelis ◽  
Chrysa Lithari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Processing ◽  
Event Related Potentials ◽  
Amplitude Analysis ◽  
Brain Hemispheres ◽  
Gamma Frequency ◽  
Delta Activity ◽  
Related Potentials ◽  
New Methodologies ◽  
Valence And Arousal

Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) or Event-Related Oscillations (EROs) have been widely used to study emotional processing, mainly on the theta and gamma frequency bands. However, the role of the slow (delta) waves has been largely ignored. The aim of this study is to provide a framework that combines EROs with Event-Related Desynchronization (ERD)/Event-Related Synchronization (ERS), and peak amplitude analysis of delta activity, evoked by the passive viewing of emotionally evocative pictures. Results showed that this kind of approach is sensitive to the effects of gender, valence, and arousal, as well as, the study of interhemispherical disparity, as the two-brain hemispheres interplay roles in the detailed discrimination of gender. Valence effects are recovered in both the central electrodes as well as in the hemisphere interactions. These findings suggest that the temporal patterns of delta activity and the alterations of delta energy may contribute to the study of emotional processing. Finally the results depict the improved sensitivity of the proposed framework in comparison to the traditional ERP techniques, thereby delineating the need for further development of new methodologies to study slow brain frequencies.

scholarly journals Attenuation of Positive Valence in Ratings of Affective Sounds by Tinnitus Patients

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
pp. 233121651881621
Author(s):  
Annett Szibor ◽  
Jarmo Lehtimäki ◽  
Jukka Ylikoski ◽  
Antti A. Aarnisalo ◽  
Antti Mäkitie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Processing ◽  
Emotional Reaction ◽  
Autonomic Response ◽  
Affective Processing ◽  
Close Link ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Positive Valence ◽  
Valence And Arousal ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Normative Ratings

Affective processing appears to be altered in tinnitus, and the condition is to a large extent characterized by the emotional reaction to the phantom sound. Psychophysiological models of tinnitus and supporting brain imaging studies have suggested a role for the limbic system in the emergence and maintenance of tinnitus. It is not clear whether the tinnitus-related changes in these systems are specific for tinnitus only, or whether they affect emotional processing more generally. In this study, we aimed to quantify possible deviations in affective processing in tinnitus patients by behavioral and physiological measures. Tinnitus patients rated the valence and arousal of sounds from the International Affective Digitized Sounds database. Sounds were chosen based on the normative valence ratings, that is, negative, neutral, or positive. The individual autonomic response was measured simultaneously with pupillometry. We found that the subjective ratings of the sounds by tinnitus patients differed significantly from the normative ratings. The difference was most pronounced for positive sounds, where sounds were rated lower on both valence and arousal scales. Negative and neutral sounds were rated differently only for arousal. Pupil measurements paralleled the behavioral results, showing a dampened response to positive sounds. Taken together, our findings suggest that affective processing is altered in tinnitus patients. The results are in line with earlier studies in depressed patients, which have provided evidence in favor of the so-called positive attenuation hypothesis of depression. Thus, the current results highlight the close link between tinnitus and depression.

scholarly journals Understanding the cognitive differences in psychopathy: Emotional distraction across psychopathic traits

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Conor Bryant
Keyword(s):  
Attention Deficit ◽  
Emotional Processing ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Psychopathic Personality ◽  
Perceptual Task ◽  
Emotional Stimuli ◽  
Cognitive Differences ◽  
Impact Performance ◽  
Valence And Arousal ◽  
Emotional Distraction

<p>Emotional stimuli naturally draw our attention. In emotional distraction paradigms, such stimuli can interrupt performance on a simple cognitive task. There are, however, individual differences in the extent to which emotional distractors impact performance. Previous research has found that highly psychopathic people perform better than others in these tasks, indicating that they are less distracted by emotional stimuli. We tested two separate accounts of the cognitive differences in psychopathy. Emotional processing accounts believe the deficit is specific to processing of aversive stimuli. Conversely, the Attention deficit accounts suggest the deficit is rather ineffective processing of peripheral information. To tease these hypotheses apart we investigated emotional distraction using positive and negative peripheral distractors. Negative distraction but not positive distraction should be reduced if emotional processing accounts are correct; all types of distraction should be reduced for Attention-deficit accounts. The current study employs an emotional distraction paradigm that includes peripheral task-irrelevant distractors that vary in valence and arousal. We measured trait psychopathy using the Psychopathic Personality Inventory in a university sample and grouped participants into low, intermediate, or high Fearless Dominance groups. Participants (N = 83) were instructed to ignore distracting images (positive, negative, or neutral) in the periphery while completing a simple perceptual task at fixation. Participants low in Fearless Dominance showed greater distraction by emotional stimuli than neutral stimuli. In contrast, those high in Fearless Dominance showed no greater distraction by emotional than neutral stimuli. The findings suggest there is no fear-specific deficit in psychopathy, instead, we see an overall decrease in emotional distraction for those high in Fearless Dominance. This finding also supports attention-deficit accounts, however, distraction by neutral stimuli was not associated with Fearless Dominance indicating the reduced distraction is specific to emotional stimuli.</p>

scholarly journals EMOCIJAS SUKELIANČIŲ VAIZDŲ VERTINIMAS SKIRTINGOSE MĖNESINIŲ CIKLO FAZĖSE

Psichologija ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
pp. 111-122
Author(s):  
Laura Mačiukaitė ◽  
Ramunė Grikšienė ◽  
Osvaldas Rukšėnas
Keyword(s):  
Menstrual Cycle ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Emotional Processing ◽  
International Affective Picture System ◽  
Experimental Session ◽  
Extensive Investigation ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
17Β Estradiol ◽  
Valence And Arousal

 Šiame tyrime analizavome mėnesinių ciklo fazės ir lyties įtaką emocijas sukeliančių vaizdų vertinimui. 30 universiteto studentų (18 moterų ir 12 vyrų) buvo tiriami keturis kartus. Moterims eksperimento dienos buvo parinktos taip, kad atitiktų folikulinę, ovuliacijos, geltonkūnio ir vėlyvojo geltonkūnio mėnesinių ciklo fazes, o vyrai eksperimentuose dalyvavo moterų fazes atitinkančiais laiko intervalais. Moterų ciklo fazėms patvirtinti buvo matuojama 17β-estradiolio ir progesterono koncentracija seilėse. Tyrimo metu įvairaus patrauklumo emocijas sukeliantys vaizdai iš Tarptautinės emocijas sukeliančių vaizdų siste­mos (IAPS) buvo vertinami valentingumo ir emocinio jaudulio aspektais. Tyrimo rezultatai parodė, kad skirtingo patrauklumo vaizdų vertinimas vyrų grupėje nepriklauso nuo eksperimento dienos, o moterų priklauso nuo mėnesinių ciklo fazės. Patrauklių vaizdų vertinimas moterų grupėje teigiamai koreliuoja su 17β-estradiolio koncentracija ir pasižymi didžiausiais valentingumo balais ovuliacijos fazėje ir neigia­mai koreliuoja su progesterono koncentracija ir pasižymi mažiausiais valentingumo balais geltonkūnio fazėje. Atstumiančius vaizdus visose mėnesinių ciklo fazėse (išskyrus geltonkūnio fazę) moterys vertino mažesniais valentingumo ir didesniais emocinio jaudulio balais nei vyrai.Pagrindiniai žodžiai: emocijos, lytiniai hormonai, mėnesinių ciklas, IAPS.Estimation of affective pictures in different phases of menstrual cycleLaura Mačiukaitė, Ramunė Grikšienė, Osvaldas Rukšėnas SummaryDespite extensive investigation and increasing interest in gender differences of cognitive abilities and emotional processing, more questions than answers still remain. There are accumulating data that sex steroid hormones have a strong effect on the functioning of the central nervous system. However, data concerning the effects of these hormones on emotional processing in both genders and during different phases of women’s menstrual cycle are scarce and contradictory.The aim of our study was to investigate how gender and the phase of menstrual cycle influence the evaluation of affective pictures with different attractiveness. Thirty university students (12 men and 18 women), mean age 23.1 ± 2.4 years, participated in this study. Thirty-six images were selected from the International Affective Picture System (IAPS) and grouped into four sets of nine photographs each: three attractive, three neutral, three antipathetic. All subjects participated in four experimental sessions. Images were selected to represent all affective levels (from the least pleasant and arousing to the most pleasant and arousing) during each experimental session. Women were investigated during follicular, ovulatory, luteal and late luteal phases of menstrual cycle confirmed by salivary 17β-estradiol and progesterone assessment. Intervals between men’s experimental sessions corresponded to women’s inter-session intervals determined by phases. The task for subjects was to rate the pictures in valence and arousal dimensions using the Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM) instrument.The study revealed that women estimated affective pictures with a higher valence (t = 2.72, p < 0.01) and a lower arousal (t = –5.70, p < 0.001) than men. The rating of affective images by men was stabile and independent of experimental day. Women rated pictures depending on the phase of menstrual cycle. Attractive pictures were rated as the most pleasant and arousing (statistically significant differences as compared to other phases and men) during the ovulatory (high 17β-estradiol) phase. The rating of neutral pictures did not depend on the phase of the menstrual cycle (except follicular). The rating of antipathetic pictures was less dependent on the phase of menstrual cycle, and in all cases (except luteal, high progesterone phase) these pictures were rated as less pleasant (t = –8.22, p < 0.01) and more arousing (t = 3.85, p < 0.01) as compared to estimates done by men.Key words: emotions, sex steroids, menstrual cycle, IAPS.

scholarly journals Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Abilities, Emotion Processing and the Role of Early Life Stress in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Konstantina Atanasova ◽  
Tobias Lotter ◽  
Wolfgang Reindl ◽  
Stefanie Lis
Keyword(s):  
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ◽  
Emotional Processing ◽  
Emotional Experience ◽  
Emotional Awareness ◽  
Interoceptive Awareness ◽  
Bowel Diseases ◽  
Inflammatory Bowel ◽  
Bodily Sensations ◽  
Valence And Arousal ◽  
Interoceptive Accuracy

Perception of internal bodily sensations includes three dissociable processes: interoceptive accuracy, interoceptive sensibility, and interoceptive awareness. Interoceptive abilities play a crucial role in emotion processing and impairments of these processes have been reported in several psychiatric disorders. Studies investigating interoceptive abilities and their role in emotional experience in individuals with somatic disorders such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are sparse. Recent findings suggested an association between adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and the development of gastrointestinal disorders. The aim of the current study was to investigate the associations between the different dimensions of interoception and emotional processing in IBD while taking ACE into account. We recruited IBD patients in clinical remission (n = 35) and 35 healthy control participants (HC) matched for age, education and IQ. Interoception was measured as a three-dimensional construct. Interoceptive accuracy was assessed with the heartbeat tracking task and interoceptive sensibility with a self-report measure (Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness questionnaire). Emotional processing was measured using an experimental task, where participants were asked to rate the subjectively perceived valence and arousal when presented with positive, neutral and negative visual stimuli. IBD patients significantly differed in two interoceptive sensibility domains, Emotional awareness and Not-distracting. Patients reported greater awareness of the connection between bodily sensations and emotional states, while showing a stronger tendency to use distraction from unpleasant sensations compared with HC. Higher emotional awareness was linked to higher perceived intensity and arousal of negative stimuli. The strength of this relation was dependent on the severity of ACE, with severer traumatization being associated with a stronger association between emotional awareness and perceived valence and arousal. Our findings suggest that it is the subjective component of interoception, especially the one assessing interoceptive abilities within the scope of emotional experience, which affects emotional processing in IBD. This is the first study providing evidence that IBD patients did not differ in their perception of visceral signals per se but only in the subjective ability to attribute certain physical sensations to physiological manifestations of emotions. Our findings support the hypothesis that ACE affect the association between interoception and emotional processing.

scholarly journals Assessments of Acoustic Environments by Emotions – The Application of Emotion Theory in Soundscape

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Fiebig ◽  
Pamela Jordan ◽  
Cleopatra Christina Moshona
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Processing ◽  
Theoretical Background ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Theoretical Concepts ◽  
Soundscape Studies ◽  
Emotion Theory ◽  
Proposed Modification ◽  
Acoustic Environments ◽  
Valence And Arousal ◽  
Additional Value

Human beings respond to their immediate environments in a variety of ways, with emotion playing a cardinal role. In evolutionary theories, emotions are thought to prepare an organism for action. The interplay of acoustic environments, emotions, and evolutionary needs are currently subject to discussion in soundscape research. Universal definitions of emotion and its nature are currently missing, but there seems to be a fundamental consensus that emotions are internal, evanescent, mostly conscious, relational, manifest in different forms, and serve a purpose. Research in this area is expanding, particularly in regards to the context-related, affective, and emotional processing of environmental stimuli. A number of studies present ways to determine the nature of emotions elicited by a soundscape and to measure these reliably. Yet the crucial question—which basic and complex emotions are triggered and how they relate to affective appraisal—has still not been conclusively answered. To help frame research on this topic, an overview of the theoretical background is presented that applies emotion theory to soundscape. Two latent fundamental dimensions are often found at the center of theoretical concepts of emotion: valence and arousal. These established universal dimensions can also be applied in the context of emotions that are elicited by soundscapes. Another, and perhaps more familiar, parallel is found between emotion and music. However, acoustic environments are more subtle than musical arrangements, rarely applying the compositional and artistic considerations frequently used in music. That said, the measurement of emotion in the context of soundscape studies is only of additional value if some fundamental inquiries are sufficiently answered: To what extent does the reporting act itself alter emotional responses? Are all important affective qualities consciously accessible and directly measurable by self-reports? How can emotion related to the environment be separated from affective predisposition? By means of a conceptual analysis of relevant soundscape publications, the consensus and conflicts on these fundamental questions in the light of soundscape theory are highlighted and needed research actions are framed. The overview closes with a proposed modification to an existing, standardized framework to include the meaning of emotion in the design of soundscapes.

scholarly journals Updating the Chieti Affective Action Videos database with older adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pasquale La Malva ◽  
Irene Ceccato ◽  
Adolfo Di Crosta ◽  
Anna Marin ◽  
Mirco Fasolo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Emotional Processing ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Aging Research ◽  
Innovative Tool ◽  
Emotional Dimensions ◽  
Valence And Arousal ◽  
Age Range ◽  
Potential Use

AbstractValidation of the Chieti Affective Action Videos (CAAV) database was replicated with a sample of older adults (age range 65–93). When designing experimental studies of emotions, it is crucial to take into consideration the differences in emotional processing between young and older adults. Therefore, the main goal of the present study was to provide an appropriate dataset for the use of CAAV in aging research. For this reason, the CAAV administration and the data collection methodology was faithfully replicated in a sample of 302 older adults. All the 360 standardized stimuli were evaluated on the emotional dimensions of valence and arousal. The CAAV validation in an older adults’ population increases the potential use of this innovative tool. The present validation supports the use of the CAAV database in future experimental studies on cognitive functions in healthy and pathological aging.

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