Emotion does not influence prefrontal cortex activity during a visual attention task. A functional near infrared spectroscopy study.
Research shows that positive and negative emotion can influence a range of cognitive processes as well as hemodynamic prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity. This study sought to investigate if PFC activity was influenced by positive and negative stimuli during mood induction as well as during a subsequent visual attention task. The International Affective Picture System was employed to induce affective states in participants before they completed a visual attention task. PFC hemodynamic activity was recorded using non invasive functional near infrared spectroscopy. Increased PFC activity was evident during the visual attention task compared to affective stimuli viewing. However, emotion did not influence PFC activity during affective stimuli viewing or completion of the visual attention task. Future research should take into account the role individual differences may play in mitigating any influence of emotion on PFC activity. Emotion; fNIRS; PFC; visual attention; mood; cognition