Emotional stimuli modulate readiness for action: a transcranial magnetic stimulation study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Psychophysiology

Background:

• Emotional stimuli are known to influence cognitive and motor functions.
• Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) measures corticospinal excitability via motor-evoked potentials (MEPs).
• Previous research suggests emotions may prime motor readiness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the dynamic effects of induced emotions on action readiness.
• To examine how emotional pictures modulate corticospinal excitability during a choice task.

Main Methods:

• Participants performed a choice task while viewing emotional and neutral pictures.
• Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was used to measure motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) in muscles.
• MEP amplitudes were analyzed in relation to the timing of the response and picture valence.

Main Results:

• MEP amplitudes increased as TMS pulses neared the response time, indicating heightened corticospinal excitability.
• Both pleasant and unpleasant emotional pictures amplified this dynamic pattern.
• The amplification effect was more pronounced when viewing unpleasant emotional stimuli.

Conclusions:

• Emotional stimuli dynamically modulate action readiness.
• Unpleasant emotions appear to have a stronger effect on priming the motor system compared to pleasant emotions.
• These findings provide novel evidence for emotion-action readiness links.