Event-related potential responses to love-related facial stimuli

S.J.E. Langeslag*, B.M. Schmitt, I.H.A. Franken, J.W. Van Strien

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

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Abstract

In event-related potential (ERPs) studies, emotional stimuli usually elicit an enhanced late positive potential (LPP), which is assumed to reflect motivated attention. However, whether a stimulus elicits emotional responses may depend on the individual's state, such as experiencing romantic love. It has been suggested that stimuli that are related to someone's beloved will elicit increased attention in that infatuated individual. In this study, participants who were in love viewed faces of their beloved, their friend, and of an unknown, beautiful person. The friend was included to control for familiarity, and the unknown person for perceived beauty. As expected, the LPP was larger in response to the face of the beloved than to the other two emotionally significant faces. Interpreting the LPP as reflecting motivated attention, this implies that romantic love is accompanied by increased attention for the face of one's beloved.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)109-115
JournalBiological Psychology
Volume76
Issue number1-2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2007

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