The Influencing Mechanism of Incidental Emotions on Risk Perception: Evidence from Event-Related Potential

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Risk Management

Background:

• Incidental emotions influence risk perception and accident risk.
• Limited research exists on the neurological underpinnings of emotion's effect on risk perception.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the neurological effects of incidental emotions on risk perception.
• To establish an emotional information-processing model for risk perception.

Main Methods:

• Emotion elicitation using video clips.
• Event-related potential (ERP) technique to record neurological data during risk perception tasks.

Main Results:

• Shorter reaction times under both positive and negative incidental emotions compared to neutral.
• Negative emotions led to risk overestimation, increased P2/N2 amplitudes, and decreased LPP amplitude.
• Positive emotions correlated with higher correct-response rates and more accurate risk assessment.

Conclusions:

• Incidental emotions modulate both mid-term risk analysis and late risk judgment stages.
• Negative emotions induce negativity bias and reduced attention, impairing risk judgment.
• Positive emotions enhance attentional span and detailed cognitive processing for accurate risk assessment.