Colour-induced relationship between affect and reaching kinematics during a goal-directed aiming task

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Vision Science

Background:

• A link exists between affect (emotion) and action, with threat information processed via the dorsal visual stream.
• Magnocellular visual pathways, crucial for threat perception, are suppressed by red light.
• The influence of color on the affect-action relationship requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of color, specifically red light, in modulating the affect-action link.
• To determine how different colored glasses affect affect valence and motor control.
• To explore the underlying mechanisms, such as magnocellular pathway suppression, involved in color's influence on affect and action.

Main Methods:

• Participants wore colored glasses (red, yellow, green, blue, clear) and completed affect questionnaires (Positive and Negative Affect Scale).
• Target-directed aiming movements were performed to assess motor control and accuracy.
• Kinematic analyses and correlation analyses were used to evaluate movement error and affect-action relationships.

Main Results:

• Red light significantly reduced perceived positive affect compared to other colors.
• Wearing red glasses led to reduced aiming accuracy and impaired online movement control processes.
• Negative affect scores were positively correlated with aiming errors under red light conditions.

Conclusions:

• Red light uniquely modulates the affect-action link by suppressing magnocellular activity, disrupting visual processing for movement.
• The findings suggest that motor performance tasks requiring online control are particularly sensitive to the effects of red light.
• Color perception, specifically red, can influence both emotional state and the execution of goal-directed actions.