NO EFFECTS OF VERBAL VERSUS IMAGINAL COGNITIVE STRATEGIES ON EMOTIONAL RESPONSES TO AVERSIVE SLIDES

A number of studies have indicated that the right hemisphere is specia lized for (negative) emotions. Some authors have suggested that this s pecialization stems from the cognitive characteristics of this hemisph ere. More specifically, the verbal and analytic approach that characte rizes left hemisphere functioning would inhibit emotional reactions, w hereas the imaginal and global approach that characterizes right hemis phere functioning would facilitate emotional reactivity. The present s tudy examined whether these two cognitive strategies have, indeed, dif ferent effects on emotional responsivity. Subjects were exposed to a s eries of aversive slides. One group (n = 14) was instructed to process the slides in a verbal/analytic manner. The second group (n = 14) emp loyed an imaginal/global strategy while viewing the slides. The third group (n = 14) was a control group that received no explicit instructi ons. Self-reported emotions, skin conductance responses, heart rate fr equency, and eye blink startles were recorded. There were no differenc es between the three groups with regard to any of these variables. Thu s, no evidence was obtained to support the idea that processing modes (i.e., verbal/analytic versus imaginal/global) have a differential imp act on emotional reactivity. The implications for theories about later alization of emotions and for cognitive therapy are discussed.