Paying attention to emotional images with impact.

Abstract

Emotional stimuli receive high processing priority in attention and memory. This processing "advantage" is generally thought to be predominantly mediated by arousal. However, recent data suggest that ratings of an image's affective "impact" may be a better predictor of recollection than arousal or valence. One interpretation of these findings is that high-impact images may draw an individual's attention, thus facilitating subsequent processing. We investigated the allocation of visual attention to negative emotional images that differed in impact but were matched for valence, arousal, and other characteristics. Participants viewed a central image flanked by 2 neutral indoor or outdoor scenes and made speeded judgments about whether the neutral scenes matched. In Experiment 1, responses were slower on high-impact relative to low-impact or neutral trials. In Experiment 2, responses on high-arousal relative to low-arousal trials did not differ significantly. These data provide evidence for differential allocation of attention to distinct sets of negative, equally arousing images, and argue against the prevailing view that heightened attention to and processing of emotional stimuli relate simply to arousal or valence.

Emotional Modulation of the Attentional Blink by Pleasant and Unpleasant Pictures

“…Other researchers have also found that relying exclusively on valence and arousal to explain reactions to picture content is limited and may exclude other relevant factors (Murphy, Hill, Ramponi, Calder, & Barnard, 2010;Libkuman, Otani, Kern, Viger, & Novak, 2007). For example, Murphy, et al, (2010) found that a picture's impact, but not its valence and arousal, best accounted for the amount of attention provided to it.…”

“…For example, Murphy, et al, (2010) found that a picture's impact, but not its valence and arousal, best accounted for the amount of attention provided to it. According to the authors, an image's impact is thought to relate to its personal relevance to the viewer (Murphy et al, 2010).…”

Disgust-specific modulation of early attention processes

“…Theoretically, these results are also important, as they suggest that there must be "something" distinctive about the disgust-evoking pictures, besides the fact that they are unpleasant and arousing, that triggered a particular response in the participants that temporarily led to diminished target processing. This "something" is presumably linked to the specific function(s) of disgust or alternatively, to their feasibly higher impact (Murphy, Hill, Ramponi, Calder, & Barnard, 2010). The concept of impact is as yet poorly understood, but it allegedly refers to "the immediate effects of images on viewers in terms of their generic cognitive-affective qualities" (Murphy et al, 2010, p. 612).…”

Using propensity score matching to construct experimental stimuli

“…A further case of application might be research on visual perception or emotional pictures. For instance, Murphy, Hill, Ramponi, Calder, and Barnard (2010) investigated the influence of the impact of emotion on attention to negative emotional images. To do so, they matched high-impact, low-impact, and neutral images according to several covariates, including valence, arousal, distinctiveness, visual complexity, and tendency to approach or avoid.…”