Effects of depressed mood induction on reasoning performance

The relationship between depressed mood, reasoning and perceptual performance was examined with 57 undergraduate volunteers. To intensify its effect, Velten's 1968 mood induction procedure was modified by having subjects hear a prerecording of each mood statement prior to saying it themselves. Also, midway through the experiment subjects completed an abbreviated mood induction to ensure continuation of the appropriate mood. Ratings of subjects' mood on a 13-point Likert scale before and after mood induction indicated the mood induction was effective. Subjects completed the reasoning measure of 48 syllogisms, and the perceptual measure involving identification of positive, negative, or neutral stimulus words presented tachistoscopically. "Depressed" individuals showed poorer reasoning performance of marginal significance than "elated" subjects. Mood induction did not appear to affect perceptual performance. Results are discussed in terms of the research on reasoning deficits in depression.