Cardiovascular changes during induced emotion: An application of Lang's theory of emotional imagery

Studies of emotion have provided occasional support for physiological diffe rentiation of affective states; however, the evidence has been inconsistent . The aims of the present study were to investigate cardiovascular changes associated with relived experiences of happiness, sadness, anger, fear, and disgust and to examine the utility of methods designed to optimize the ind uction of emotional responses. Thirty-four undergraduates who scored 0.5 sd above the mean on Larsen and Diener's Affect Intensity Measure described t heir most intense experiences of five emotions. These descriptions were the n used to induce those emotions while blood pressure and other hemodynamic measures were monitored. Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and stroke volume differentiated among emotions. The results support the s uggestion that cardiovascular activity differentiates emotional states and provide some insight into the physiological adjustments subserving such eff ects. The study demonstrates a method that may be applied to studies of dis crete emotions. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.