Is it through emotion that we know ourselves? : a psychophysiological investigation into self-reference and emotional valence
Abstract
The aims of the present thesis were two fold. The first aim was to investigate
the relationship between self-referential and emotional processing. The second aim
was to investigate the extent to which self-referential processing is altered as a function
of mood. In order to address these two aims, a variety of behavioural and physiological
measures were recorded and a new methodology was employed in the following
experimental chapters.
The aim of experiment one was to investigate how non-dysphoric and dysphoric
individuals evaluate the emotional valence and self-referential content of word stimuli
at a behavioural level. A self-positivity bias was identified in non-dysphoric
individuals, positive words were rated as self-referential and negative words were rated
as non-self-referential. Compared to non-dysphoric individuals, dysphoric individualsâ
evaluations of self-reference but not emotional valence were altered. Event-related
potentials (ERPs) were employed in experiment two to investigate self-referential
processing at a neural level. A two stage model of processing was identified in which,
an evaluation of emotional valence was found to occur prior to an interaction between
self-reference and emotional valence. A self-positivity bias was identified in the ERP
component known as the N400. ERP waves were more negative going to self negative
and non-self-positive words when compared to self-positive and non-self-negative
words. This bias was explained in terms of the semantic mismatch hypothesis. The
aim of experiment three was to investigate how the neural processing of self-referential
and emotional information is altered as a function of mood. Differences between nondysphoric
and dysphoric individuals were identified during the early stages of
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processing in an emotion task. Between group differences were identified during the
later stages of processing in a self-reference task, around 400 ms. Skin conductance
and heart rate were employed in experiment four to examine autonomic responses
during self-referential and emotional processing in healthy individuals. Both decision-making
tasks were found to elicit similar physiological responses. These findings were
taken to suggest that a large component of self-referential processing involves the
processing of emotional information. Finally, the aim of experiment five was to
investigate if person-referent processing was altered during the experience of a negative
mood. The behavioural and neural responses of non-dysphoric and dysphoric
individuals were compared across self-referent and other-referent decision-making
tasks. Between group differences were specific to the self-reference task at the
behavioural level. However, group differences were identified in both the self-referent
and other-referent tasks at the neural level. The results provide partial support for the
hypothesis that negative mood is associated with specific impairments in self-referential
processing.
Overall the results of the present thesis illustrate that the processing of
emotional information plays a large role in self-referential decision-making.
Furthermore, the N400 was found be involved in this type of decision-making at the
semantic level. Negative mood was associated with greater changes in self-referential
processing than in other forms of emotional or person-referent processing. In the final
chapter, a two stage model is proposed to account for self-referential processing. The
implications of this model are discussed in terms of two macro-cognitive theories,
interacting cognitive subsystems (ICS) and SPAARs. Finally, the limitations and
future directions for developing this line of research are outlined.
Type
Thesis, PhD Doctor of Philosophy
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