INS NYC 2024 Program

Poster	Poster Session 02 Program Schedule 02/15/2024 08:00 am - 09:15 am Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60) Poster Session 02: Aging \| MCI \| Neurodegenerative Disease - PART 1 Final Abstract #10 Emotional Perception Abilities of Music for Individuals with Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum Matthew Wallace, Fuller Grad School of Psychology, Pasadena, United States Lynn Paul, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United States Kutter Callaway, Fuller Grad School of Psychology, Pasadena, United States Warren Brown, Fuller Grad School of Psychology, Pasadena, United States Category: Behavioral Neurology/Cerebral Lateralization/Callosal Studies Keyword 1: corpus callosum Keyword 2: congenital disorders Keyword 3: emotional processes Objective: Agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC) is the congenital full or partial absence of the corpus callosum. Research has shown that the processing of complex emotions is impacted by the absence of this neural structure, while simple emotion processing is within normal limits (Anderson et al., 2017; Paul et al., 2006). Social processing deficits in ACC associated with deficiencies in the processing of complex emotions evident include difficulty in recognizing subtle vocal nuances in language comprehension (Banich & Brown, 2000), social reasoning (Brown & Paul, 2000), theory of mind (Symington et al., 2010), humor (Paul et al., 2003), and facial recognition of negative emotions (Bridgman et al., 2014). The current study used the Geneva Emotional Music Scale (GEMS-25) to explore the impact of ACC on emotional experiences while listening to instrumental music. Given the reduced perception of emotional facial expressions, particularly expressions of negative emotion, in persons with ACC, it was hypothesized that the average arousal rating emotions would be lower overall in adults with ACC and that the emotional intensities rated would be higher for positive vs. negative emotions. Participants and Methods: Participants included 48 neurotypical individuals recruited through MTurk and 14 high-functioning (FSIQ > 80) individuals with ACC. Using the GEMS-25, participants were presented with 18 short pieces of instrumental music and asked to select from a list the emotions felt and then asked to rate the intensity of the feeling (1 – 100). The intensity ratings of each of the emotions from the 4 most positive and 4 most negative emotion songs were then averaged. For each participant, the intensity of ratings of selected negative emotions (Sad, Tearful, Tense, Agitated) and positive emotions (Fascinated, Tender, Filled with Wonder, Joyful) were averaged representing the characteristic intensity of positive vs. negative feelings. Results: While the average intensity rating of ACC participants (M = 60.56, SD = 24.59) was higher than that of the neurotypical participants (M = 54.97, SD = 22.48), a 2 group x 2 emotions (positive and negative) ANOVA of average intensity rating showed a nonsignificant overall group difference [F = 1.165, p < .285, η² = 0.02]. However, with respect to positive vs. negative emotions experienced, there was a significant interaction [F = 6.025, p < .017, η² = 0.091] such that persons with ACC rated emotions to positive but not negative songs to be of greater intensity than controls. Conclusions: Contrary to the hypothesis, individuals with ACC showed higher average ratings of emotions across all songs. When comparing positive vs. negative songs, a significant interaction effect was found indicating that the higher emotional intensity ratings given by persons with ACC were particularly evident for positive songs. This suggests that rating disparity lies in an overall elevated expression of positive emotional experiences, but in the presence of a diminished expression of negative emotions, coinciding with previous reports of reduced negative emotional experiences in those with ACC.

Poster

02/15/2024
08:00 am - 09:15 am
Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60)

Poster Session 02: Aging | MCI | Neurodegenerative Disease - PART 1

Final Abstract #10

Emotional Perception Abilities of Music for Individuals with Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum

Matthew Wallace, Fuller Grad School of Psychology, Pasadena, United States
Lynn Paul, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United States
Kutter Callaway, Fuller Grad School of Psychology, Pasadena, United States
Warren Brown, Fuller Grad School of Psychology, Pasadena, United States

Category: Behavioral Neurology/Cerebral Lateralization/Callosal Studies

Keyword 1: corpus callosum
Keyword 2: congenital disorders
Keyword 3: emotional processes

Objective:

Agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC) is the congenital full or partial absence of the corpus callosum. Research has shown that the processing of complex emotions is impacted by the absence of this neural structure, while simple emotion processing is within normal limits (Anderson et al., 2017; Paul et al., 2006). Social processing deficits in ACC associated with deficiencies in the processing of complex emotions evident include difficulty in recognizing subtle vocal nuances in language comprehension (Banich & Brown, 2000), social reasoning (Brown & Paul, 2000), theory of mind (Symington et al., 2010), humor (Paul et al., 2003), and facial recognition of negative emotions (Bridgman et al., 2014). The current study used the Geneva Emotional Music Scale (GEMS-25) to explore the impact of ACC on emotional experiences while listening to instrumental music. Given the reduced perception of emotional facial expressions, particularly expressions of negative emotion, in persons with ACC, it was hypothesized that the average arousal rating emotions would be lower overall in adults with ACC and that the emotional intensities rated would be higher for positive vs. negative emotions.

Participants and Methods:

Participants included 48 neurotypical individuals recruited through MTurk and 14 high-functioning (FSIQ > 80) individuals with ACC. Using the GEMS-25, participants were presented with 18 short pieces of instrumental music and asked to select from a list the emotions felt and then asked to rate the intensity of the feeling (1 – 100). The intensity ratings of each of the emotions from the 4 most positive and 4 most negative emotion songs were then averaged. For each participant, the intensity of ratings of selected negative emotions (Sad, Tearful, Tense, Agitated) and positive emotions (Fascinated, Tender, Filled with Wonder, Joyful) were averaged representing the characteristic intensity of positive vs. negative feelings.

Results:

While the average intensity rating of ACC participants (M = 60.56, SD = 24.59) was higher than that of the neurotypical participants (M = 54.97, SD = 22.48), a 2 group x 2 emotions (positive and negative) ANOVA of average intensity rating showed a nonsignificant overall group difference [F = 1.165, p < .285, η² = 0.02]. However, with respect to positive vs. negative emotions experienced, there was a significant interaction [F = 6.025, p < .017, η² = 0.091] such that persons with ACC rated emotions to positive but not negative songs to be of greater intensity than controls.

Conclusions:

Contrary to the hypothesis, individuals with ACC showed higher average ratings of emotions across all songs. When comparing positive vs. negative songs, a significant interaction effect was found indicating that the higher emotional intensity ratings given by persons with ACC were particularly evident for positive songs. This suggests that rating disparity lies in an overall elevated expression of positive emotional experiences, but in the presence of a diminished expression of negative emotions, coinciding with previous reports of reduced negative emotional experiences in those with ACC.