The Allocation of Valenced Percepts Onto 3D Space

Abstract

Research on the metaphorical mapping of valenced concepts onto space indicates that positive, neutral, and negative concepts are mapped onto upward, midward, and downward locations, respectively. More recently, this type of research has been tested for the very first time in 3D physical space. The findings corroborate the mapping of valenced concepts onto the vertical space as described above but further show that positive and negative concepts are placed close to and away from the body; neutral concepts are placed midway. The current study aimed at investigating whether valenced perceptual stimuli are positioned onto 3D space akin to the way valenced concepts are positioned. By using a unique device known as the cognition cube, participants placed visual, auditory, tactile and olfactory stimuli on 3D space. The results mimicked the placing of valenced concepts onto 3D space; i.e., positive percepts were placed in upward and close-to-the-body locations and negative percepts were placed in downward and away-from-the-body locations; neutral percepts were placed midway. These pattern of results was more pronounced in the case of visual stimuli, followed by auditory, tactile, and olfactory stimuli. Significance Statement Just recently, a unique device called “the cognition cube” (CC) enabled to find that positive words are mapped onto upward and close-to-the-body locations and negative words are mapped onto downward and away-from-the-body locations; neutral words are placed midway. This way of placing words in relation to the body is consistent with an approach-avoidance effect such that “good” and “bad” things are kept close to and away from one’s body. We demonstrate for the very first time that this same pattern emerges when visual, auditory, tactile, and olfactory perceptual stimuli are placed on 3D physical space. We believe these results are significant in that the CC can be used as a new tool to diagnose emotion-related disorders.

On the localization of tastes and tasty products in 2D space

“…Nevertheless, the compatibility between these seemingly unrelated features (tastes and spatial locations) reflects some level of organization taking place within our conceptual system. In this case, and based on the ideas that people represent valenced concepts in 2D and 3D space (Marmolejo-Ramos et al, 2018), and that sweet and bitter are characteristically valenced stimuli, or concepts (Mennella, 2014), it is possible that, all other things being equal, participants might guide their judgements based on the feature's valence 4 . As mentioned in the introduction section, it is known that perceptual dimensions differentiate valence, something that might as well guide the extent to which people relate them to one another (Cavanaugh, MacInnis, & Weiss, 2015, Collier, 1996Velasco et al, 2016).…”

“…On the other hand, the research also shows that people represent affective stimuli spatially, in particular, along the vertical plane, such that positively-valenced objects and words tend to be located higher relative to their negatively-valenced counterparts (e.g., Damjanovic & Santiago, 2016;Machiels & Orth, 2017;Marmolejo-Ramos et al, 2013Meier & Robinson, 2004;Sasaki, Yamada, & Miura, 2016). Moreover, in a recent study, Marmolejo-Ramos et al (2018) provided some evidence for the idea that in terms of 3D space, participants consistently place positive (negative) concepts in higher (lower) locations and nearer to (farther from) their body (see also Piqueras-Fiszman, Kraus, & Spence, 2014) with no preferential associations with locations in the horizontal plane (though note that previous research has, on occasion, documented a weaker pitch/left-right association, see Mudd, 1963).…”

Let Me Make You Happy, And I’ll Tell You How you look around: Using an Approach-Avoidance Task as an Embodied Emotion Prime in a Free-Viewing Task

“…In particular, there is a general bodily tendency to approach positive and avoid negative cues and do so faster than vice versa (20). Moreover, it was shown that positive concepts and percepts are placed closeto-the-body locations, while negative concepts and percepts are placed away-from-the-body locations (21,22). This gives evidence for a general bodily reaction to positive or negative stimuli (20,23).…”

Let Me Make You Happy, and I'll Tell You How You Look Around: Using an Approach-Avoidance Task as an Embodied Emotion Prime in a Free-Viewing Task

“…In particular, there is a general bodily tendency to approach positive and avoid negative cues and do so faster than vice versa (Phaf et al, 2014 ). Moreover, it was shown that positive concepts and percepts are placed close-to-the-body locations, while negative concepts and percepts are placed away-from-the-body locations (Marmolejo-Ramos et al, 2018 , 2019 ). This gives evidence for a general bodily reaction to positive or negative stimuli (Phaf et al, 2014 ; Sharbanee et al, 2014 ).…”