The color red attracts attention in an emotional context. An ERP study

Abstract

The color red is known to influence psychological functioning, having both negative (e.g., blood, fire, danger), and positive (e.g., sex, food) connotations. The aim of our study was to assess the attentional capture by red-colored images, and to explore the modulatory role of the emotional valence in this process, as postulated by Elliot and Maier (2012) color-in-context theory. Participants completed a dot-probe task with each cue comprising two images of equal valence and arousal, one containing a prominent red object and the other an object of different coloration. Reaction times were measured, as well as the event-related lateralizations of the EEG. Modulation of the lateralized components revealed that the color red captured and later held the attention in both positive and negative conditions, but not in a neutral condition. An overt motor response to the target stimulus was affected mainly by attention lingering over the visual field where the red cue had been flashed. However, a weak influence of the valence could still be detected in reaction times. Therefore, red seems to guide attention, specifically in emotionally-valenced circumstances, indicating that an emotional context can alter color’s impact both on attention and motor behavior.

Response Inhibition Is Facilitated by a Change to Red Over Green in the Stop Signal Paradigm

“…For example, the color red degrades performance in achievement contexts (e.g., tests; Elliot et al, 2007; Maier et al, 2008), red cues can interact with the emotional valence of stimuli to modulate responses to emotional stimuli (Kuniecki et al, 2015), and females who wear red clothing are rated as being more attractive and as having more sexual intent by heterosexual males, suggesting that red may act as a sexual cue (e.g., Guéguen, 2012; Elliot et al, 2013). …”

The dot-probe task to measure emotional attention: A suitable measure in comparative studies?

“…The color red captures and holds attention in both positive and negative nonhuman stimuli, but not in neutral stimuli. In one study, this resulted in motor responses to the target stimuli being affected by attention lingering over the position where a red cue was flashed (Kuniecki, Pilarczyk, & Wichary, 2015). The same process might influence studies with facial stimuli.…”

The study of different attention states under different background music based on Event-Related potential analysis

“…The positions of electrodes are based on the international 10-20 system. The montage includes 8 midline sites (FPZ,FZ,FCZ,CZ,CPZ,PZ,POZ,OZ), 27 left hemisphere sites (FP1,AF3,F1,F3,F5,F7,FC1,FC3,FC5,FT7,C1,C3,C5,T7,CP1,CP3,CP5,TP7,P1,P3,P5,P7,PO3,PO5,P O7,O1,CB1), and 27 right hemisphere sites (FP2,AF4,F2,F4,F6,F8,FC2,FC4,FC6,FT8,C2,C4,C6,T8,CP2,CP4,CP6,TP8,P2,P4,P6,P8,PO4,PO6,P O8,O2,CB2) [11]. To avoid the external disturbance, the tip of the nose is the reference for all electrodes and the blink response of the subjects is monitored by the Vertical-Electrooculogram …”

“…Noble [10] observed that the children in higher income family had the advantages of cognitive abilities throughvarious neurocognitive systems. Kuniecki [11] proved that the red color was more capable to attract people's attention by the observation of EEG, especially in given context.…”