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Abstract:
Abstract: Emotional states might selectively modulate
components of cognitive control. To test this hypothesis, I focused
on approach-withdrawal emotion and spatial-verbal working memory
(WM) as among the clearest distinctions in their respective
domains. I conducted 4 behavioral experiments to test for a
differential influence of emotional states (from short videos:
approach, neutral, withdrawal) on WM (2-back tasks: spatial,
verbal) in undergraduates randomly assigned to conditions (n=184).
The spatial and verbal tasks were identical in appearance, and were
equated for difficulty. Spatial WM was enhanced by a withdrawal
state and impaired by an approach state; the opposite held for
verbal WM. The crossover interaction held in absolute terms with
neutral intermediate, and was specific to approach-withdrawal
emotion. The results suggest that emotional states can promote and
coordinate high-level self-regulation by selectively modulating a
profile of cognitive control functions (e.g., inhibition, goal
maintenance).
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