Parallel processing of affective visual stimuli.
Event-related potential (ERP) studies of affective picture processing have demonstrated an early posterior negativity (EPN) for emotionally arousing pictures that are embedded in a rapid visual stream. The present study examined the selective processing of emotional pictures while systematically varying picture presentation rates between 1 and 16 Hz. Previous results with presentation rates up to 5 Hz were replicated in that emotional compared to neutral pictures were associated with a greater EPN. Discrimination among emotional and neutral contents was maintained up to 12 Hz. To explore the notion of parallel processing, convolution analysis was used: EPNs generated by linear superposition of slow rate ERPs explained 70%-93% of the variance of measured EPNs, giving evidence for an impressive capacity of parallel affective discrimination in rapid serial picture presentation.
Peyk
Peter
P
Department of Psychology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. peter.peyk@unibas.ch
Schupp
Harald T
HT
Keil
Andreas
A
Elbert
Thomas
T
Junghöfer
Markus
M
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology*; D000465:Algorithms; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult