Influence of emotion on the control of low-level force production

The accuracy and variability of a sustained low-level force contraction (2% of maximum voluntary contraction) was measured while participants viewed unpleasant, pleasant, and neutral images during a feedback occluded force control task. Exposure to pleasant and unpleasant images led to a relative increase in force production but did not alter the variability of force production compared to conditions in which participants viewed neutral images. Findings are discussed with respect to prior work, emphasizing arousal specific changes that emerge at low target force levels.