How We Process Emotion Words Graham G. Scott Sara C. Sereno Patrick J How We Process Emotion Words Graham G. Scott Sara C. Sereno Patrick J. O’Donnell

Background How do the emotional properties of a stimulus influence our processing? Behavioural Evidence: Most studies show that negative stimuli are responded to fastest (e.g., Wurm et al., 2003). A growing minority have demonstrated faster responses to positive stimuli (e.g., Kakolewski et al., 1999).

Background Limitations of Previous Work: What are ‘emotional’ words? Baselines and comparisons. Experimental Designs.

Behavioural Study Simple LDT. Stimuli: 80 positive words (wine, love). 80 neutral words (cheese, village). 80 negative words (boring, accident). Also controlled for Frequency.

Reaction Time Results

Discussion Results seem to favour a perceptual defence based theory, such as Taylor’s Mobilisation-Minimisation hypothesis. Early identification of the emotional tone of words leads to differential processing. HF negative words seem to attract additional cognitive resources.

Eye-Tracking Study Never done before. More on-line than LDT. 3 x 2 design: Frequency (high, low). Target word (positive, negative, neutral). 24 sentence triplets used.

Eye-Tracking Study Hannah could only think about her riches as she lay awake. The sudden appearance of the violin alarmed the detective. Andy stared at the photo of the tumour in the waiting room.

Eye Tracking Results

Eye Tracking Results

Discussion Supports results of behavioural study. Next step: sentences in paragraphs.

Eye-Tracking Study The little boy was running down the hill. He was playing with the puppy he got for Christmas. His mother came to pick him up. Gordon was in the woods behind his house. He fell, cutting himself badly and breaking his leg. It was hours before he returned home. The accountant was taking a long stroll. He was wearing a blue sweatshirt, jeans and trainers. There was no one else for miles around.

Discussion Supports results of behavioural study. Next step: sentences in paragraphs see if stronger contexts strengthen effects. will there be spill-over effects onto subsequent regions?

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