Abstract
In social interactions, emotionally salient and sudden changes in vocal expressions attract attention. However, only a few studies examined how emotion and attention interact in voice processing. We investigated neutral, happy (laughs) and angry (growls) vocalizations in a modified oddball task. Participants silently counted the targets in each block and rated the valence and arousal of the vocalizations. A combined event-related potential and time-frequency analysis focused on the P3 and pre-stimulus alpha power to capture attention effects in response to unexpected events. Whereas an early differentiation between emotionally salient and neutral vocalizations was reflected in the P3a response, the P3b was selectively enhanced for happy voices. The P3b modulation was predicted by pre-stimulus frontal alpha desynchronization, and by the perceived pleasantness of the targets. These findings indicate that vocal emotions may be differently processed based on task relevance and valence. Increased anticipation and attention to positive vocal cues (laughter) may reflect their high social relevance.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 11-21 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Biological Psychology |
Volume | 130 |
Early online date | 20 Sept 2017 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Dec 2017 |
Keywords
- Voice
- Emotion
- Attention
- EEG
- P3
- Alpha power
- EMOTIONAL PROSODY
- FACIAL EXPRESSIONS
- NEGATIVITY BIAS
- BAND POWER
- ANTICIPATORY ATTENTION
- INDIVIDUAL-DIFFERENCES
- SELECTIVE ATTENTION
- AUDITORY-PERCEPTION
- TEMPORAL DYNAMICS
- VOCAL EXPRESSIONS