The effect of mood state on visual search times for detecting a target in noise: an application of smartphone technology

The study of visual perception has largely been completed without regard to the influence that an individual’s emotional status may have on their performance in visual tasks. However, there is a growing body of evidence to suggest that mood may affect not only creative abilities and interpersonal skills but also the capacity to perform low-level cognitive tasks. Here, we sought to determine whether rudimentary visual search processes are similarly affected by emotion. Specifically, we examined whether an individual’s perceived happiness level affects their ability to detect a target in noise. To do so, we employed pop-out and serial visual search paradigms, implemented using a novel smartphone application that allowed search times and self-rated levels of happiness to be recorded throughout each twenty-four-hour period for two weeks. This experience sampling protocol circumvented the need to alter mood artificially with laboratory-based induction methods. Using our smartphone applicatio...长期以来，视觉感知领域的研究大多未考虑个体情绪状态对其视觉任务表现的影响。不过，越来越多的研究证据表明，情绪不仅会影响创造力与人际交往能力，还会对低级认知任务的执行能力产生作用。本研究旨在探究初级视觉搜索过程是否同样会受情绪影响。具体而言，我们考察了个体感知到的快乐水平是否会影响其在噪声背景中检测目标的能力。为此，我们采用了弹出式（pop-out）与序列视觉搜索范式，并通过一款新型智能手机应用程序完成实验：该程序可在为期两周的每日24小时周期内，记录搜索时长与自我报告的快乐水平。此种经验取样范式（experience sampling protocol）规避了使用实验室情绪诱导手段人为改变情绪的需求。借助本研究的智能手机应用程序……