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Cited by 775Neural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorCognitive Functions and Memory

How Positive Affect Modulates Cognitive Control: Reduced Perseveration at the Cost of Increased Distractibility.

Dreisbach, Gesine, Goschke, Thomas·2004·Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition
DOI 10.1037/0278-7393.30.2.343
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Abstract

A fundamental problem that organisms face in a changing environment is how to regulate dynamically the balance between stable maintenance and flexible switching of goals and cognitive sets. The authors show that positive affect plays an important role in the regulation of this stability-flexibility balance. In a cognitive set-switching paradigm, the induction of mild increases in positive affect, as compared with neutral or negative affect, promoted cognitive flexibility and reduced perseveration, but also incurred a cost in terms of increased distractibility. Rather than influencing set switching in an unspecific way, positive affect thus exerted opposite effects on perseveration and distractibility. Results are consistent with neuropsychological models according to which effects of positive affect on cognitive control are mediated by increased dopamine levels in frontal brain areas.

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Crossref · 10.1037/0278-7393.30.2.343

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66 of 66 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Positive mood, associated with pro-social attitudes, can impair inhibitory control (Stroop performance), increase distractibility, and impair self-other distinction.

    “Positive mood, which is associated with prosocial attitudes, can lead to poor performance on Stroop inhibition tasks (Phillips, Bull, Adams & Fraser, 2002), increased distractibility (Dreisbach & Goschke, 2004), and impairment of the ability to distinguish self from others (Stroessner, Mackie & Michalsen, 2005).”

    From Social attitudes modulate automatic imitation (2010) · cites this paper as Dreisbach & Goschke, 2004

  • Findings from mood and cognition research are consistent with the hypothesis that social attitudes modulate mimicry via effects on inhibitory mechanisms.

    “The results of studies investigating the effect of mood on cognition are consistent with the hypothesis that social attitudes modulate mimicry via their effects on inhibitory mechanisms.”

    From Social attitudes modulate automatic imitation (2010) · cites this paper as Dreisbach & Goschke, 2004

  • Positive affect and emotional arousal interfere with cognitive control (e.g., the increase of interference and distractibility).

    “it is well established that positive affect and emotional arousal interfere with cognitive control (e.g., the increase of interference and distractibility78,79)”

    From Emotion-related impulsivity moderates the cognitive interference effect of smartphone availability on working memory (2019) · cites this paper as [78]

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Authors
Dreisbach, G., & Goschke, T.
Affiliations
Technische Universität Dresden (DE)
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
2004-03
Volume
30
Issue
2
Pages
343-353
ISSN
  • 0278-7393 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1285
DOI
10.1037/0278-7393.30.2.343
OpenAlex
W1972687238
Cited by
775
References
66
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 35 · 2022: 38 · 2021: 46 · 2020: 78 · 2019: 41 · 2018: 46 · 2017: 35 · 2016: 39 · 2015: 40 · 2014: 53 · 2013: 44 · 2012: 54
FWCI
7.21
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Experimental Psychology Learning Memory and Cognition (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • University of Regensburg Publication Server (University of Regensburg) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
Keywords
positive affect, cognitive control, perseveration, distractibility, cognitive flexibility, dopamine, frontal cortex, emotion and cognition
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Affect, Attention, Color Perception, Discrimination Learning, Dopamine, Female, Frontal Lobe, Humans, Internal-External Control, Male, Motivation, Pattern Recognition, Visual, Problem Solving, Reaction Time, Set, Psychology

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