Processing of angry voices is modulated by visual load

Mothes-Lasch, Martin; Miltner, Wolfgang H. R.; Straube, Thomas

doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.07.005

Cited by 15 publications

(12 citation statements)

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“…Furthermore, existing studies on multimodal stimuli predominantly investigated how emotional faces and emotional voices are integrated (for a recent review see Klasen et al, 2012). As expected, most of the studies generally indicate that behavioral outcome is based on interactive integration of multimodal emotional information (de Gelder and Bertelson, 2003; Mothes-Lasch et al, 2012). For example, emotion recognition is improved in response to redundant multimodal compared to unimodal stimuli (Vroomen et al, 2001; Kreifelts et al, 2007; Paulmann and Pell, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 63%

Emotional sounds modulate early neural processing of emotional pictures

et al. 2013

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In our natural environment, emotional information is conveyed by converging visual and auditory information; multimodal integration is of utmost importance. In the laboratory, however, emotion researchers have mostly focused on the examination of unimodal stimuli. Few existing studies on multimodal emotion processing have focused on human communication such as the integration of facial and vocal expressions. Extending the concept of multimodality, the current study examines how the neural processing of emotional pictures is influenced by simultaneously presented sounds. Twenty pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral pictures of complex scenes were presented to 22 healthy participants. On the critical trials these pictures were paired with pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral sounds. Sound presentation started 500 ms before picture onset and each stimulus presentation lasted for 2 s. EEG was recorded from 64 channels and ERP analyses focused on the picture onset. In addition, valence and arousal ratings were obtained. Previous findings for the neural processing of emotional pictures were replicated. Specifically, unpleasant compared to neutral pictures were associated with an increased parietal P200 and a more pronounced centroparietal late positive potential (LPP), independent of the accompanying sound valence. For audiovisual stimulation, increased parietal P100 and P200 were found in response to all pictures which were accompanied by unpleasant or pleasant sounds compared to pictures with neutral sounds. Most importantly, incongruent audiovisual pairs of unpleasant pictures and pleasant sounds enhanced parietal P100 and P200 compared to pairings with congruent sounds. Taken together, the present findings indicate that emotional sounds modulate early stages of visual processing and, therefore, provide an avenue by which multimodal experience may enhance perception.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 63%

Emotional sounds modulate early neural processing of emotional pictures

et al. 2013

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“…For example, one fMRI study revealed that angry distractor voices produced altered responses in the amygdala and auditory cortex, relative to neutral voices, under low visual load, whereas this difference was eliminated under high visual load (Mothes-Lasch, Miltner, & Straube, 2012). Further evidence for supramodal capacities has emerged from studies investigating awareness of distractors.…”

Section: Cross-modal Perceptual-load Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Twenty years of load theory—Where are we now, and where should we go next?

2016

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Selective attention allows us to ignore what is taskirrelevant and focus on what is task-relevant. The cognitive and neural mechanisms that underlie this process are key topics of investigation in cognitive psychology. One of the more prominent theories of attention is perceptual load theory, which suggests that the efficiency of selective attention is dependent on both perceptual and cognitive load. It is now more than 20 years since the proposal of load theory, and it is a good time to evaluate the evidence in support of this influential model. The present article supplements and extends previous reviews (Lavie, Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 9, 75-82. doi:10.1016/j.tics.2004.12.004, 2005, Current Directions in Psychological Science, 19, 143-148. doi:10.1177/ 0963721410370295, 2010 by examining more recent research in what appears to be a rapidly expanding area. The article comprises five parts, examining (1) evidence for the effects of perceptual load on attention, (2) cognitive load, (3) individual differences under load, (4) alternative theories and criticisms, and (5) the future of load theory. We argue that the key next step for load theory will be the application of the model to real-world tasks. The potential benefits of applied attention research are numerous, and there is tentative evidence that applied research would provide strong support for the theory itself, as well as real-world benefits related to activities in which attention is crucial, such as driving and education.Keywords Selective attention . Perception . Perceptual load . Load theory . Distraction . Visual attention Selective attention is the ability to focus on that which is important to the task at hand while ignoring or suppressing task-irrelevant information. A key question that has fuelled much debate and research in psychology is how, and crucially when, this irrelevant information is filtered out. For example, while reading this article the reader may be surrounded by many potential distractors, such as the noise of a fly buzzing around the room. Given the top-down goal of reading this article, how much information is available to you about the fly? Can the processing of irrelevant stimuli be reduced or even prevented by internal or external factors? The inability to ignore distractors is a common experience in daily life, and though it may at times have minor consequences, such as extending the length of time it takes to read an article, in other situations lapses of attention may have far more serious consequences (e.g., in healthcare situations, or while operating heavy machinery). Perceptual load theory (Lavie, 1995(Lavie, , 2005(Lavie, , 2010Lavie & Tsal, 1994) suggests that the success or failure of selective attention is dependent on the processing demands of the current task. That is, the level of perceptual load as well as any cognitive load will determine the efficiency of distractor rejection. This theory has been hugely influential over the last 20 years,

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“…However, when attention is directed to the visual modality while hearing emotional voices, higher activation of the amygdala and auditory cortices disappears (Mothes-Lasch et al, 2011). Similarly, a demanding visual task simultaneous to hearing emotional voices diminishes higher activation of the auditory cortex (Mothes-Lasch et al, 2012). …”

Section: Automatic Brain Responses To Threat-related Stimuli In Sadmentioning

confidence: 99%

Automatic Neural Processing of Disorder-Related Stimuli in Social Anxiety Disorder: Faces and More

Schulz¹,

Mothes-Lasch²,

Straube³

2013

Front. Psychol.

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It has been proposed that social anxiety disorder (SAD) is associated with automatic information processing biases resulting in hypersensitivity to signals of social threat such as negative facial expressions. However, the nature and extent of automatic processes in SAD on the behavioral and neural level is not entirely clear yet. The present review summarizes neuroscientific findings on automatic processing of facial threat but also other disorder-related stimuli such as emotional prosody or negative words in SAD. We review initial evidence for automatic activation of the amygdala, insula, and sensory cortices as well as for automatic early electrophysiological components. However, findings vary depending on tasks, stimuli, and neuroscientific methods. Only few studies set out to examine automatic neural processes directly and systematic attempts are as yet lacking. We suggest that future studies should: (1) use different stimulus modalities, (2) examine different emotional expressions, (3) compare findings in SAD with other anxiety disorders, (4) use more sophisticated experimental designs to investigate features of automaticity systematically, and (5) combine different neuroscientific methods (such as functional neuroimaging and electrophysiology). Finally, the understanding of neural automatic processes could also provide hints for therapeutic approaches.

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Processing of angry voices is modulated by visual load

Cited by 15 publications

References 60 publications

Emotional sounds modulate early neural processing of emotional pictures

Emotional sounds modulate early neural processing of emotional pictures

Twenty years of load theory—Where are we now, and where should we go next?

Automatic Neural Processing of Disorder-Related Stimuli in Social Anxiety Disorder: Faces and More

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