Can bottom-up processes of attention be a source of "interference" in situations where top-down control of attention is crucial?

Nikolla, Dritan, Edgar, Graham K ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4302-7169, Catherwood, Dianne F and Matthews, Tristan (2018) Can bottom-up processes of attention be a source of "interference" in situations where top-down control of attention is crucial? British Journal of Psychology, 109 (1). pp. 85-98. doi:10.1111/bjop.12251

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Abstract

In this study we investigate whether emotionally engaged bottom-up processes of attention can be a source of "interference" in situations where top-down control of attention is necessary. Participants were asked to monitor and report on a video of a war scenario showing a developing battle in two conditions: emotionally positive and emotionally negative. Half of the participants (n = 15) were exposed to task-irrelevant pictures of positive emotional valence embedded within the scenario; the other half were exposed to task-irrelevant pictures of negative emotional valence. Sensitivity and bias scores were calculated using Signal Detection Theory. Overall, task accuracy scores were dependent upon the valence; negative pictures had an adverse effect on performance, whereas positive pictures improved performance. We concluded that negative emotional pictures interfered with top-down control of attention by attracting competing bottom-up processes of attention. We found the opposite effect for positive emotional stimuli.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Nikolla, Dritan and Edgar, Graham K and Catherwood, Dianne F and Matthews, Tristan (2018) Can bottom-up processes of attention be a source of "interference" in situations where top-down control of attention is crucial? British Journal of Psychology, 109 (1). pp. 85-98.,which has been published in final form at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bjop.12251/abstract. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Situation awareness; affective state;attention; emotion; signal detection theory; bias; memory; top-down attention; bottom-up attention; quantitative analysis of situation awareness; situation awareness; IAPS ; military; negative emotions; positive emotions; REF2021
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education, Health and Sciences
Research Priority Areas:	Health, Life Sciences, Sport and Wellbeing
Depositing User:	Graham Edgar
Date Deposited:	23 May 2017 10:24
Last Modified:	05 Aug 2025 09:44
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/4622

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