| Description |
The objective of this study was to examine if negative emotion can play an influential role on inhibition through attentional control. Higher levels of working memory capacity (WMC) have been correlated with faster inhibition times attributed to greater tolerance of automatic processes and better attentional control (Miller, 2014). This study attempted to replicate this relationship then use emotion to modulate the relationship. Participants were tested using the Operation Span (OSPAN) task to estimate their WMC, then given an emotional induction, either negative or neutral, via a film clip. After the induction they were asked to complete the Stop-Signal task (SST) to assess response inhibition. The neutral condition showed the expected correlation between increased OSPAN score and faster inhibition times provid ing support for the role of WMC in attentional control. The negative condition showed an altered pattern, which may indicate emotion as a significant factor in attentional control. Ultimately, this study found preliminary evidence for the necessity of attentional control in regulating emotional responses. |
