The effect of low versus high approach-motivated positive affect on the balance between maintenance and flexibility.
Successful goal-directed behavior in a constantly changing environment requires a balance between maintenance and flexibility. Although some studies have found that positive affect influences this balance differently than neutral affect, one recent study found that motivational intensity of positive affective states influences this balance in a cognitive set-shifting paradigm. However, working memory updating and set shifting are interrelated but distinct components of cognitive control. The present study examined the effect of low versus high approach-motivated positive affect on the balance between maintenance and flexibility in working memory. A simple cuing paradigm (the AX Continuous Performance Task) was employed, and neutral affect and high and low approach-motivated positive affect were induced using affective pictures. The results revealed that, relative to neutral affect, low approach-motivated positive affect attenuated maintenance and increased flexibility, whereas high approach-motivated positive affect promoted maintenance and decreased flexibility. These findings offer further evidence that the effects of positive affect on cognitive control are modulated by approach motivational intensity.
Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, P.R. China.
Liting
L
Liu
Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, P.R. China. Electronic address: ltliu@zju.edu.cn.
Baihua
B
Xu
D000339:Affect; D003071:Cognition; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D009042:Motivation; D011930:Reaction Time; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
Approach motivational intensity; Cognitive control; Flexibility; Maintenance; Positive affect