Abstract

Bilateral presentations of brief (250 ms), unmasked emotional and neutral stimuli were examined in two experiments with primarily female samples. Reaction time and accuracy data were used to measure perception of emotion and skin conductance response (SCR) was used to measure experience of emotion. Both words and pictures were used to account for hemispheric differences in language and visuospatial dominance. Response time was faster to emotional pictures than words. Reaction time and speeded accuracy data did not support right hemisphere hypothesis (RHH) or valence hypothesis (VH) in the expected manner. Data suggested emotion caused greater interference under speeded conditions in the right hemisphere (RH) than in the left hemisphere (LH) for strongly right handed individuals. The RH and LH responded differently to language based than to visuospatial information based on handedness. Under unspeeded conditions accuracy data, indicated the RH was more accurate, which supported RHH as hypothesized. SCR had no significant findings.

LLU Discipline

Clinical Psychology

Department

Psychology

School

School of Science and Technology

First Advisor

Haerich, Paul E.

Second Advisor

Burley, Todd D.

Third Advisor

Fogel, Travis

Fourth Advisor

Owen, Jason

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Level

Ph.D.

Year Degree Awarded

2011

Date (Title Page)

9-2011

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Cerebral Dominance; Emotions - Physiology; Reaction Time - Physiology; Galvanic Skin Response - Physiology; Brain Mapping; Functional Laterality; Brain - Localization of Functions; Cognitive Neuroscience

Subject - Local

Visuospatial Information; Visuospatial Dominance; Right-handed individuals; Left-handed individuals

Type

Dissertation

Page Count

115

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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