Emotional curiosity: modulation of visuospatial attention by arousal is preserved in aging and early-stage Alzheimer's disease

Previous studies have shown that Alzheimer's disease, even in its early sta ges, decreases novelty-seeking behaviors (curiosity) and impairs the shifti ng of spatial attention to extrapersonal targets. In this study, early-stag e probable Alzheimer's disease patients (PRAD) and young and aging controls were shown pairs of visual scenes, some of which contained emotionally-aro using material, while eye movements were recorded under free viewing condit ions. In all three subject groups, emotionally-arousing scenes attracted mo re viewing time and also became the preferential target of the initial visu al orientation. Our findings suggest that the arousing properties of sensor y stimuli may overcome some of the AD-related impairments in the distributi on of attention to extrapersonal targets. These results may have implicatio ns for interventions aimed at improving the cognitive symptoms of PRAD. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.