How the depth of processing modulates emotional interference - evidence from EEG and pupil diameter data

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Psychophysiology

Background:

• Emotional self-control relies on processing conflicting emotional information.
• The depth of processing for interfering emotional stimuli impacts cognitive control, but specific subprocesses remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how manipulating the depth of processing for emotional stimuli affects cognitive subprocesses.
• To explore the role of the norepinephrine system in modulating emotional interference.

Main Methods:

• Integration of electroencephalography (EEG), source localization, and pupil diameter measurements.
• Analysis of event-related potentials (P3) and norepinephrine (NE) system activity via pupil dilation.

Main Results:

• Increased processing depth of emotional stimuli potentiated emotional Stroop effects.
• EEG data indicated modulations in decision-making processes (P3 potential).
• Pupil diameter data suggested NE system involvement, particularly with increased processing depth, facilitating complex emotional information processing.

Conclusions:

• Deeper processing of emotional stimuli enhances interference and engages the norepinephrine system.
• The norepinephrine system modulates decision-making and action control mechanisms for complex emotional interference.
• Parietal (BA7) and insular (BA13) cortices are implicated in these modulatory effects.