Autonomic specificity of discrete emotion and dimensions of affective space: a multivariate approach
Abstract
The present study addressed autonomic nervous system (ANS) patterning during experimentally manipulated emotion. Film clips previously shown to induce amusement, anger, contentment, disgust, fear and sadness, in addition to a neutral control film, were presented to 34 college-aged subjects while skin conductance, blood pressure and the electrocardiogram (ECG) were recorded, as was self-reported affect. Both mean of and mean successive difference of heart period were derived from the ECG. Pattern classification analyses revealed emotion-specific autonomic patterning for all emotion conditions except disgust; all emotion conditions exhibited significant patterning using self-report. Discriminant function analysis was used to describe the location of discrete emotions within dimensional affective space using both self-report and ANS variables. Findings suggest that the dimensions of valence and activation portray the structure of self-reported emotion, but that valence is more accurately described as approach-withdrawal when applied to autonomic responses during discrete emotions. The findings provide further support for the existence of emotion-specific ANS activity, and are consistent with a hybrid discrete-dimensional model of affective space.
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Studies in the past few decades support a role for both discrete categories and broader dimensions related to appraisals and motivational significance in ANS activity.
“Studies in the past few decades support a role for both, implying a gradient of autonomic specificity where autonomic differentiation exists at multiple levels (e.g., Christie and Friedman, 2004;Nyklíček et al., 1997;Witvliet and Vrana, 1995).”
From Physiological feelings (2019) · cites this paper as Christie and Friedman, 2004
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- Authors
- Christie, I. C., & Friedman, B. H.
- Affiliations
- Virginia Tech (US)
- Corresponding author
- Friedman, Bruce H
- Venue
- International Journal of Psychophysiology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2004-01
- Volume
- 51
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 143-153
- ISSN
- 0167-8760 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2115223110
- Cited by
- 347
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 24 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 26 · 2012: 14
- FWCI
- 6.34
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Psychophysiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Emotion and Mood Recognition
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Keywords
- discrete emotions, autonomic nervous system, affective space, valence, activation, approach-withdrawal, heart period, skin conductance, blood pressure, affective domain, self-reported emotion, disgust, fear, anger, amusements, contentment, sadness
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Autonomic Nervous System, Blood Pressure, Electric Conductivity, Electrocardiography, Emotions, Female, Galvanic Skin Response, Heart Rate, Humans, Male, Motion Pictures, Photic Stimulation, Surveys and Questionnaires, Skin Physiological Phenomena, Multivariate Analysis
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