Induced Positive Mood and Cognitive Flexibility: Evidence from Task Switching and Reversal Learning

Abstract

Positive mood often facilitates cognitive functions. Facilitation is hypothesized to be due to an increase in dopamine occurring in positive mood states. However, facilitation has not been consistently found in studies of cognitive flexibility. This inconsistent relationship may reflect the numerous ways cognitive flexibility is measured. Moreover, there is evidence that the role of dopamine in cognitive flexibility performance depends on the type of measure used. In the current study, we employed a probabilistic two-card reversal learning task (n = 129) and a Stroop-like task switching procedure (n = 188) in a college student population. We used a standardized set of mood videos to induce a positive, negative, or neutral mood state. Negative mood states were included to account for possible effects of arousal on performance, which is seen in both positive and negative mood inductions. Based on current theories of positive mood and cognition, we hypothesized that there would be differences in the effects of a positive mood induction on cognitive flexibility as assessed by task switching and reversal learning tasks. The mood induction successfully induced high levels of amusement and increased valence in the positive mood group and high levels of repulsion and decreased valence in the negative mood group. However, there were no differences in cognitive flexibility across any of the mood groups, as assessed by switch costs in task switching and correct choices after the reversal in reversal learning. Overall, these findings do not support the hypothesis that positive mood improves cognitive flexibility.

Role of arousal, subjective significance and valence of affect in task-switching effectiveness

“…The difference in the shape of results, depending on the valence condition, is partly in line with previous studies exploring this dimension of emotional processing in task switching (Hsieh & Lin, 2019;Tae et al, 2021;Wenzel et al, 2013), despite not obtaining a main effect of valence. It has to be noted that the lack of main effects of the well-established dimensions of emotionality, namely arousal and valence, is in line with studies showing no influence of emotions on performance in task switching (Cudo et al, 2018;González-García et al, 2021;Nusbaum et al, 2018).…”

“…Furthermore, it has been shown that increasing the reward in the task (causing a positive emotional reaction) resulted in reducing the time cost of the switch between the tasks, whereas reducing the reward (causing a negative emotional reaction) was tied to a larger time cost of the switch (Shen & Chun, 2011). However, it has to be mentioned that a number of studies did not recognise the significant behavioural effects of different emotional conditions in task-switching procedures (Cudo et al, 2018;González-García et al, 2021;Nusbaum et al, 2018). Subjective significance has not been a frequently explored factor influencing cognitive control, and the present study is one of the first to verify the influence of this factor on task switching.…”

Does sadness bring myopia: an intertemporal choice experiment with college students

“…While the research primarily investigates the impact of sadness on intertemporal decision-making, it is crucial to acknowledge the possibility that observed effects may not solely be driven by changes in mood but also by concurrent cognitive decline. Previous literature indicates that negative mood states can impair cognitive functions such as memory and executive functions (Rusting, 1999;Dobson, 2015;Nusbaum et al, 2018). Thus, it is plausible that the observed alterations in decision-making behavior could be attributed, at least in part, to changes in cognitive processing rather than exclusively to the emotional state induced by the experimental manipulation.…”