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Effects of Valence on Hemispheric Specialization for Emotion Word Processing
Jennifer M Martin1, Jeanette Altarriba1
1University at Albany, State University of New York, USA.
Language and Speech
|December 9, 2017
Summary
This study found that positive emotion words are processed faster than negative or neutral words, with specialized brain hemisphere processing for emotional language.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Linguistics
Background:
- Emotion in language is crucial for human interaction and a significant area for cognitive research.
- Understanding how the brain processes emotional language provides insights into human cognition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate brain hemisphere processing of emotional language.
- To examine reaction times to different categories of emotional and neutral words.
Main Methods:
- A lexical decision task was employed, presenting words and nonwords to different visual hemifields.
- Participants responded to stimuli categorized as positive emotion, negative emotion, positive emotion-laden, negative emotion-laden, and neutral words.
Main Results:
- A general left hemisphere advantage was observed in processing.
- Reaction times for positive words were significantly faster than for negative or neutral words.
- Hemifield presentation modulated the observed effects, suggesting specialized processing.
Conclusions:
- The findings support a valence hypothesis of emotional language processing.
- Evidence suggests specialized processing in the left hemisphere for positive emotions and the right hemisphere for negative emotions.
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