Brazilian norms for the International Affective Picture System (IAPS): comparison of the affective ratings for new stimuli between Brazilian and North-American subjects

OBJECTIVE: The study presents the Brazilian norms for 240 new stimuli from International Affective Picture System (IAPS), a database of affective images widely used in research, compared to the North-American normative ratings. METHODS: The participants were 448 Brazilian university students from several courses (269 women and 179 men) with mean age of 24.2 (SD = 7.8), that evaluated the IAPS pictures in the valence, arousal and dominance dimensions by the Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM) scales. Data were compared across the populations by Pearson linear correlation and Student's t-tests. RESULTS: Correlations were highly significant for all dimensions; however, Brazilians' averages for arousal were higher than North-Americans'. CONCLUSIONS: The results show stability in relation to the first part of the Brazilian standardization and they are also consistent with the North-American standards, despite minor differences relating to interpretation of the arousal dimension, demonstrating that IAPS is a reliable instrument for experimental studies in the Brazilian population.

Emotion-oriented interventions for environment and the facilitation of pro-environmental behavior

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Doutor em Ambiente, pela Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia

Gaze fixations predict brain activation during the voluntary regulation of picture-induced negative affect

Recent studies have identified a distributed network of brain regions thought to support cognitive reappraisal processes underlying emotion regulation in response to affective images, including parieto-temporal regions and lateral/medial regions of prefrontal cortex (PFC). A number of these commonly activated regions are also known to underlie visuospatial attention and oculomotor control, which raises the possibility that people use attentional redeployment rather than, or in addition to, reappraisal as a strategy to regulate emotion. We predicted that a significant portion of the observed variance in brain activation during emotion regulation tasks would be associated with differences in how participants visually scan the images while regulating their emotions. We recorded brain activation using fMRI and quantified patterns of gaze fixation while participants increased or decreased their affective response to a set of affective images. fMRI results replicated previous findings on emotion regulation with regulation differences reflected in regions of PFC and the amygdala. In addition, our gaze fixation data revealed that when regulating, individuals changed their gaze patterns relative to a control condition. Furthermore, this variation in gaze fixation accounted for substantial amounts of variance in brain activation. These data point to the importance of controlling for gaze fixation in studies of emotion regulation that use visual stimuli.

CONSCIÊNCIA E EMOÇÃO: O EFEITO DO PRIMING AFETIVO SUBLIMINAR EM TAREFAS DE ATENÇÃO

Esta tese revisou duas linhas de pesquisa, desenvolvidas nas últimas décadas: o estudo de efeitos de estimulação subliminar priming , e de desencadeamento de reações emocionais por estímulos controlados. Este estudo tem o objetivo de combinar tais linhas para o estudo da consciência com pré-preparo afetivo: efeito de estímulos de conteúdo aversivo, subliminares e supraliminares, sobre a cognição, pela análise do desempenho em tarefa de atenção. Três tarefas experimentais foram realizadas por 35 indivíduos em laboratório de neuropsicologia: a tarefa base onde testamos à detecção de alvo visual simples, e a mesma tarefa de base, porém com estímulos distratores aversivos intercalados, de forma supraliminar ou subliminar (500 ms ou 50 ms de duração), em blocos aleatorizados entre os indivíduos. Calcularam-se índices de detectabilidade e critério de resposta, que serviram para a comparação estatística entre condições (medidas repetidas). Os resultados mostram uma mudança significativa do índice critério , indicando mudança de estratégia na presença de distratores subliminares aversivos. Concluiu-se que a tarefa subliminar fez um efeito destruidor ou devastador na tarefa supraliminar, cometendo menos falso-alarmes protegendo a tarefa supraliminar, tendo um efeito protetor . Os resultados são discutidos no contexto da relevância de influências emocionais sobre o comportamento para a Psicologia da Saúde.

CONSCIÊNCIA E EMOÇÃO: O EFEITO DO PRIMING AFETIVO SUBLIMINAR EM TAREFAS DE ATENÇÃO

Esta tese revisou duas linhas de pesquisa, desenvolvidas nas últimas décadas: o estudo de efeitos de estimulação subliminar priming , e de desencadeamento de reações emocionais por estímulos controlados. Este estudo tem o objetivo de combinar tais linhas para o estudo da consciência com pré-preparo afetivo: efeito de estímulos de conteúdo aversivo, subliminares e supraliminares, sobre a cognição, pela análise do desempenho em tarefa de atenção. Três tarefas experimentais foram realizadas por 35 indivíduos em laboratório de neuropsicologia: a tarefa base onde testamos à detecção de alvo visual simples, e a mesma tarefa de base, porém com estímulos distratores aversivos intercalados, de forma supraliminar ou subliminar (500 ms ou 50 ms de duração), em blocos aleatorizados entre os indivíduos. Calcularam-se índices de detectabilidade e critério de resposta, que serviram para a comparação estatística entre condições (medidas repetidas). Os resultados mostram uma mudança significativa do índice critério , indicando mudança de estratégia na presença de distratores subliminares aversivos. Concluiu-se que a tarefa subliminar fez um efeito destruidor ou devastador na tarefa supraliminar, cometendo menos falso-alarmes protegendo a tarefa supraliminar, tendo um efeito protetor . Os resultados são discutidos no contexto da relevância de influências emocionais sobre o comportamento para a Psicologia da Saúde.

CONSCIÊNCIA E EMOÇÃO: O EFEITO DO PRIMING AFETIVO SUBLIMINAR EM TAREFAS DE ATENÇÃO

Esta tese revisou duas linhas de pesquisa, desenvolvidas nas últimas décadas: o estudo de efeitos de estimulação subliminar priming , e de desencadeamento de reações emocionais por estímulos controlados. Este estudo tem o objetivo de combinar tais linhas para o estudo da consciência com pré-preparo afetivo: efeito de estímulos de conteúdo aversivo, subliminares e supraliminares, sobre a cognição, pela análise do desempenho em tarefa de atenção. Três tarefas experimentais foram realizadas por 35 indivíduos em laboratório de neuropsicologia: a tarefa base onde testamos à detecção de alvo visual simples, e a mesma tarefa de base, porém com estímulos distratores aversivos intercalados, de forma supraliminar ou subliminar (500 ms ou 50 ms de duração), em blocos aleatorizados entre os indivíduos. Calcularam-se índices de detectabilidade e critério de resposta, que serviram para a comparação estatística entre condições (medidas repetidas). Os resultados mostram uma mudança significativa do índice critério , indicando mudança de estratégia na presença de distratores subliminares aversivos. Concluiu-se que a tarefa subliminar fez um efeito destruidor ou devastador na tarefa supraliminar, cometendo menos falso-alarmes protegendo a tarefa supraliminar, tendo um efeito protetor . Os resultados são discutidos no contexto da relevância de influências emocionais sobre o comportamento para a Psicologia da Saúde.

Affective attitudes to face images associated with intracerebral EEG source location before face viewing

We investigated whether different, personality-related affective attitudes are associated with different brain electric field (EEG) sources before any emotional challenge (stimulus exposure). A 27-channel EEG was recorded in 15 subjects during eyes-closed resting. After recording, subjects rated 32 images of human faces for affective appeal. The subjects in the first (i.e., most negative) and fourth (i.e., most positive) quartile of general affective attitude were further analyzed. The EEG data (mean=25±4.8 s/subject) were subjected to frequency-domain model dipole source analysis (FFT-Dipole-Approximation), resulting in 3-dimensional intracerebral source locations and strengths for the delta–theta, alpha, and beta EEG frequency band, and for the full range (1.5–30 Hz) band. Subjects with negative attitude (compared to those with positive attitude) showed the following source locations: more inferior for all frequency bands, more anterior for the delta–theta band, more posterior and more right for the alpha, beta and 1.5–30 Hz bands. One year later, the subjects were asked to rate the face images again. The rating scores for the same face images were highly correlated for all subjects, and original and retest affective mean attitude was highly correlated across subjects. The present results show that subjects with different affective attitudes to face images had different active, cerebral, neural populations in a task-free condition prior to viewing the images. We conclude that the brain functional state which implements affective attitude towards face images as a personality feature exists without elicitors, as a continuously present, dynamic feature of brain functioning.

An analysis of students' travel motivations and images of China as a tourist destination

Despite China's rapid growth in inbound tourism, the nature of its Canadian tourist market has been insufficiently studied. In response to this need, the objectives of this study are to identify China's destination image in Canadian students' minds, their possible internal motivations for visiting China as well as examining demographic influences on people's destination image formation. The study reviews image formation process and travel motivation categorisation, discusses their relationship, and implements Baloglu and McCleary's (1999) perceptual and affective image formation model and "push and pull factors" theory as its framework. A self-administered survey was applied to 424 undergraduate students in a Canadian university in early 2004. Exploratory factor analyses were conducted to identify perceived images and travel motivation. Summated means were calculated to illustrate the affective attitudes. A series of f-test and ANOVA tests were employed to examine the influence of demographics. An open-ended question format was adopted to analyse other images, motivations and visitation barriers that students may have. Findings demonstrate that cultural and natural attractions are the predominant image which the Canadian students have of China'; some stereotypes and negative images still influence the students' perception; travel service quality is largely unknown; increasing knowledge and seeking excitement and fun are the significant motivators in the likelihood of the Canadian students choosing to visit China; and personal interests may be a factor that significantly influences an individual's destination image and travel motivation. Raising awareness and increasing familiarity through promotion are suggested as methods to create a positive destination image of China.

La caractérisation neuromagnétique de l'attention sans réflexion chez les méditants zen dans un contexte d'images visuelles négatives.

L’état d’attention sans réflexion, aussi appelé « mindfulness », a démontré des effets positifs en clinique pour les désordres émotionnels associés à diverses conditions. Le nombre d’études portant sur la caractérisation des substrats neuronaux de cet état attentionnel croît, mais il importe d’investiguer davantage à ce chapitre pour éventuellement améliorer les interventions cliniques. La présente étude compte aider à déterminer, par la magnétoencéphalographie, quelles régions cérébrales sont en corrélation avec le mindfulness chez des experts, i.e. des méditants Zen. Ces derniers cultivent un état dans lequel ils s’abstiennent de rechercher ou de rejeter les phénomènes sensoriels, ce qui en fait d’excellents candidats à la présente étude. Dans un contexte de stimulations visuelles émotionnelles, il fut demandé aux méditants tantôt d’observer les images dans un état de mindfulness (condition expérimentale), tantôt dans un état dit normal (condition contrôle) où aucun effort particulier d’attention n’était requis. Les résultats d’analyse suggèrent que les participants expérimentèrent une intensité émotionnelle moins importante en mindfulness : les cotes subjectives ainsi qu’une réponse magnétique cérébrale reliée aux émotions nommée Potentiel Positif Tardif magnétique (PPTm) suggèrent cela. Cependant, le résultat le plus statistiquement probant dépasse la nature affective des stimuli. Il s’agit d’une diminution temporellement soutenue de l’activité de fréquence gamma au niveau des zones visuelles associatives du lobe temporal droit, sans égard à la nature des images. Également, une suppression de l’activité gamma d’une zone du cortex préfrontal latéral gauche fut observée. Ceci pourrait indiquer une diminution de la conceptualisation des stimuli reliée au langage et aux processus réflectifs du soi.

Autobiographical memory and well-being in aging: the central role of semantic self-images

Higher levels of well-being are associated with longer life expectancies and better physical health. Previous studies suggest that processes involving the self and autobiographical memory are related to well-being, yet these relationships are poorly understood. The present study tested 32 older and 32 younger adults using scales measuring well-being and the affective valence of two types of autobiographical memory: episodic autobiographical memories and semantic self-images. Results showed that valence of semantic self-images, but not episodic autobiographical memories, was highly correlated with well-being,particularly in older adults. In contrast, well-being in older adults was unrelated to performance across a range of standardised memory tasks. These results highlight the role of semantic self-images in well-being, and have implications for the development of therapeutic interventions for well-being in aging.

Emotional engagement and orienting: the effects of picture size on affective response

For their survival, humans and animals can rely on motivational systems which are specialized in assessing the valence and imminence of dangers and appetitive cues. The Orienting Response (OR) is a fundamental response pattern that an organism executes whenever a novel or significant stimulus is detected, and has been shown to be consistently modulated by the affective value of a stimulus. However, detecting threatening stimuli and appetitive affordances while they are far away compared to when they are within reach constitutes an obvious evolutionary advantage. Building on the linear relationship between stimulus distance and retinal size, the present research was aimed at investigating the extent to which emotional modulation of distinct processes (action preparation, attentional capture, and subjective emotional state) is affected when reducing the retinal size of a picture. Studies 1-3 examined the effects of picture size on emotional response. Subjective feeling of engagement, as well as sympathetic activation, were modulated by picture size, suggesting that action preparation and subjective experience reflect the combined effects of detecting an arousing stimulus and assessing its imminence. On the other hand, physiological responses which are thought to reflect the amount of attentional resources invested in stimulus processing did not vary with picture size. Studies 4-6 were conducted to substantiate and extend the results of studies 1-3. In particular, it was noted that a decrease in picture size is associated with a loss in the low spatial frequencies of a picture, which might confound the interpretation of the results of studies 1-3. Therefore, emotional and neutral images which were either low-pass filtered or reduced in size were presented, and affective responses were measured. Most effects which were observed when manipulating image size were replicated by blurring pictures. However, pictures depicting highly arousing unpleasant contents were associated with a more pronounced decrease in affective modulation when pictures were reduced in size compared to when they were blurred. The present results provide important information for the study of processes involved in picture perception and in the genesis and expression of an emotional response. In particular, the availability of high spatial frequencies might affect the degree of activation of an internal representation of an affectively charged scene, and might modulate subjective emotional state and preparation for action. Moreover, the manipulation of stimulus imminence revealed important effects of stimulus engagement on specific components of the emotional response, and the implications of the present data for some models of emotions have been discussed. In particular, within the framework of a staged model of emotional response, the tactic and strategic role of response preparation and attention allocation to stimuli varying in engaging power has been discussed, considering the adaptive advantages that each might represent in an evolutionary view. Finally, the identification of perceptual parameters that allow affective processing to be carried out has important methodological applications in future studies examining emotional response in basic research or clinical contexts.

Emotional engagement and brain potentials: repetition in affective picture processing

The present thesis addresses several experimental questions regarding the nature of the processes underlying the larger centro-parietal Late Positive Potential (LPP) measured during the viewing of emotional(both pleasant and unpleasant) compared to neutral pictures. During a passive viewing condition, this modulatory difference is significantly reduced with picture repetition, but it does not completely habituate even after a massive repetition of the same picture exemplar. In order to investigate the obligatory nature of the affective modulation of the LPP, in Study 1 we introduced a competing task during repetitive exposure of affective pictures. Picture repetition occurred in a passive viewing context or during a categorization task, in which pictures depicting any mean of transportation were presented as targets, and repeated pictures (affectively engaging images) served as distractor stimuli. Results indicated that the impact of repetition on the LPP affective modulation was very similar between the passive and the task contexts, indicating that the affective processing of visual stimuli reflects an obligatory process that occurs despite participants were engaged in a categorization task. In study 2 we assessed whether the decrease of the LPP affective modulation persists over time, by presenting in day 2 the same set of pictures that were massively repeated in day 1. Results indicated that the reduction of the emotional modulation of the LPP to repeated pictures persisted even after 1-day interval, suggesting a contribution of long-term memory processes on the affective habituation of the LPP. Taken together, the data provide new information regarding the processes underlying the affective modulation of the late positive potential.

Coarse threat images reveal theta oscillations in the amygdala: a magnetoencephalography study

Neurocognitive models propose a specialized neural system for processing threat-related information, in which the amygdala plays a key role in the analysis of threat cues. fMRI research indicates that the amygdala is sensitive to coarse visual threat relevant information—for example, low spatial frequency (LSF) fearful faces. However, fMRI cannot determine the temporal or spectral characteristics of neural responses. Consequently, we used magnetoencephalography to explore spatiotemporal patterns of activity in the amygdala and cortical regions with blurry (LSF) and normal angry, fearful, and neutral faces. Results demonstrated differences in amygdala activity between LSF threat-related and LSF neutral faces (50-250 msec after face onset). These differences were evident in the theta range (4-8 Hz) and were accompanied by power changes within visual and frontal regions. Our results support the view that the amygdala is involved in the early processing of coarse threat related information and that theta is important in integrating activity within emotion-processing networks.

Advancing Bag-of-visual-words Representations For Lesion Classification In Retinal Images.

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is a complication of diabetes that can lead to blindness if not readily discovered. Automated screening algorithms have the potential to improve identification of patients who need further medical attention. However, the identification of lesions must be accurate to be useful for clinical application. The bag-of-visual-words (BoVW) algorithm employs a maximum-margin classifier in a flexible framework that is able to detect the most common DR-related lesions such as microaneurysms, cotton-wool spots and hard exudates. BoVW allows to bypass the need for pre- and post-processing of the retinographic images, as well as the need of specific ad hoc techniques for identification of each type of lesion. An extensive evaluation of the BoVW model, using three large retinograph datasets (DR1, DR2 and Messidor) with different resolution and collected by different healthcare personnel, was performed. The results demonstrate that the BoVW classification approach can identify different lesions within an image without having to utilize different algorithms for each lesion reducing processing time and providing a more flexible diagnostic system. Our BoVW scheme is based on sparse low-level feature detection with a Speeded-Up Robust Features (SURF) local descriptor, and mid-level features based on semi-soft coding with max pooling. The best BoVW representation for retinal image classification was an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC) of 97.8% (exudates) and 93.5% (red lesions), applying a cross-dataset validation protocol. To assess the accuracy for detecting cases that require referral within one year, the sparse extraction technique associated with semi-soft coding and max pooling obtained an AUC of 94.2 ± 2.0%, outperforming current methods. Those results indicate that, for retinal image classification tasks in clinical practice, BoVW is equal and, in some instances, surpasses results obtained using dense detection (widely believed to be the best choice in many vision problems) for the low-level descriptors.

The Biopsychosocial Spiritual Model Applied To The Treatment Of women With Breast Cancer, Through Rime Intervention (relaxation, mental Images, Spirituality).

This postdoctoral study on the application of the RIME intervention in women that had undergone mastectomy and were in treatment, aimed to promote psychospiritual and social transformations to improve the quality of life, self-esteem and hope. A total of 28 women participated and were randomized into two groups. Brief Psychotherapy (PB) (average of six sessions) was administered in the Control Group, and RIME (three sessions) and BP (average of five sessions) were applied in the RIME Group. The quantitative results indicated a significant improvement (38.3%) in the Perception of Quality of Life after RIME according to the WHOQOL, compared both to the BP of the Control Group (12.5%), and the BP of the RIME Group (16.2%). There was a significant improvement in Self-esteem (Rosenberg) after RIME (14.6%) compared to the BP of the Control Group (worsened 35.9%), and the BP of the RIME Group (8.3%). The improvement in well-being, considering the focus worked on (Visual Analog Scale), was significant in the RIME Group (bad to good), as well as in the Control Group (unpleasant to good). The qualitative results indicated that RIME promotes creative transformations in the intrapsychic and interpersonal dimensions, so that new meanings and/or new attitudes emerge into the consciousness. It was observed that RIME has more strength of psychic structure, ego strengthening and provides a faster transformation that BP, therefore it can be indicated for crisis treatment in the hospital environment.