All methods described here have been approved by the Internal Review Board for human subject research at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS.
1. Selecting Participants
<ol>
	<li>Use right-handed participants for DVF research. In rare cases (10%), left-handed individuals are lateralized for language processing in the right hemisphere, which would result in scalp-recorded ERP components with non-typical topographical distributions.</li>
	<li>Have participants complete the Edinburgh Handedne...

<ol>
	<li>Ali, N., Cimino, C. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hemispheric+lateralization+of+perception+and+memory+for+emotional+verbal+stimuli+in+normal+individuals.">Hemispheric lateralization of perception and memory for emotional verbal stimuli in normal individuals.</a> Neuropsychology. 11 (1), 114-125 (1997).</li><li>Cacioppo, J. T., Crites, S., Gardner, W. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Attitudes+to+the+right:+evaluative+processing+is+associated+with+lateralized+late+positive+event-related+brain+potentials.">Attitudes to the right: evaluative processing is associated with lateralized late positive event-related brain potentials.</a> Pers Soc Psycho B. 22 (12), 1205-1219 (1996).</li><li>Heller, W., Nitschke, J. B., Miller, G. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Lateralization+in+emotion+and+emotional+disorders.">Lateralization in emotion and emotional disorders.</a> Curr Dir in Psychol Sci. 7 (1), 26-32 (1998).</li><li>Beaumont, J. G., Young, A. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Functions+of+the+right+cerebral+hemisphere.">Functions of the right cerebral hemisphere.</a> Methods for studying cerebral hemispheric function. , 114-146 (1983).</li><li>Bourne, V. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+divided+visual+field+paradigm:+methodological+considerations.">The divided visual field paradigm: methodological considerations.</a> Laterality. 11 (4), 373-393 (2006).</li><li>Vigneau, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Meta-analyzing+left+hemisphere+language+areas:+phonology,+semantics,+and+sentence+processing.">Meta-analyzing left hemisphere language areas: phonology, semantics, and sentence processing.</a> NeuroImage. 30, 1414-1432 (2006).</li><li>O'Hare, A. J., Atchley, R. A., Young, K. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Valence+and+arousal+influence+the+late+positive+potential+during+central+and+lateralized+presentation+of+images.">Valence and arousal influence the late positive potential during central and lateralized presentation of images.</a> Laterality. , 1-19 (2016).</li><li>Olofsson, J. K., Nordin, S., Sequeira, H., Polich, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Affective+picture+processing:+an+integrative+review+of+ERP+findings.">Affective picture processing: an integrative review of ERP findings.</a> Biol Psychol. 77 (3), 247-265 (2008).</li><li>Oldfield, R. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+assessment+and+analysis+of+handedness:+The+Edinburgh+inventory.">The assessment and analysis of handedness: The Edinburgh inventory.</a> Neuropsychologia. 9, 97-113 (1971).</li><li>Lang, P. J., Bradley, M. M., Cuthbert, B. N., Lang, P. J., Simons, . R. F., Balaban, M., Simons, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Motivated+attention:+affect,+activations,+and+action.">Motivated attention: affect, activations, and action.</a> Attention and orienting: Sensory and motivational processes. , 97-135 (1997).</li><li>Lang, P. J., Bradley, M. M., Cuthbert, B. N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=International+affective+picture+system+(IAPS):+affective+ratings+of+pictures+and+instruction+manual.">International affective picture system (IAPS): affective ratings of pictures and instruction manual.</a> Technical Report A-8. , (2008).</li><li>Nolan, S. A., Heinzen, T. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hypothesis+testing+with+t+tests:+comparing+two+groups.">Hypothesis testing with t tests: comparing two groups.</a> Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences. , 382-421 (2008).</li><li>Bradley, M. M., Hamby, S., Low, A., Lang, P. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Brain+potentials+in+perception:+picture+complexity+and+emotional+arousal.">Brain potentials in perception: picture complexity and emotional arousal.</a> Psychophysiology. 44, 364-373 (2007).</li><li>Mccready, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=On+size,+distance,+and+visual+angle+perception.">On size, distance, and visual angle perception.</a> Percept Psychophys. 37 (4), 323-334 (1985).</li><li>Jasper, H. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Report+of+the+committee+on+methods+of+clinical+examination+in+electroencephalography:+1957.">Report of the committee on methods of clinical examination in electroencephalography: 1957.</a> Electroen Clin Neuro. 10 (2), 370-375 (1958).</li><li>Luck, S. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Basic principles of ERP recording. An Introduction to the Event-Related Potential Technique. , 147-184 (2014).</li><li>Luck, S. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+design+of+ERP+experiments.">The design of ERP experiments.</a> An Introduction to the Event-Related Potential Technique. , 119-146 (2014).</li><li>Woodman, G. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+brief+introduction+to+the+use+of+event-related+potentials+(ERPs)+in+studies+of+perception+and+attention.">A brief introduction to the use of event-related potentials (ERPs) in studies of perception and attention.</a> Atten Percept Psychophys. 72 (8), 2031-2046 (2010).</li><li>Carpenter, R. H. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Movements of the eyes. , (1988).</li><li>Young, K. M., Atchley, R. A., Atchley, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Offset+masking+in+a+divided+visual+field+study.">Offset masking in a divided visual field study.</a> Laterality. 14 (5), 473-494 (2009).</li><li>Compumedics Neuroscan. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> CURRY 7 [computer software]. , (2008).</li><li>Luck, S. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Artifact+rejection+and+correction.">Artifact rejection and correction.</a> An Introduction to the Event-Related Potential Technique. , 185-218 (2014).</li><li>Luck, S. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Baseline+correction,+averaging,+and+time-frequency+analysis.">Baseline correction, averaging, and time-frequency analysis.</a> An Introduction to the Event-Related Potential Technique. , 249-282 (2014).</li><li>Kappenman, E. S., Luck, S. J., Luck, S. J., Kappenman, E. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=ERP+components:+the+ups+and+downs+of+brainwave+recordings.">ERP components: the ups and downs of brainwave recordings.</a> The Oxford Handbook of Event-Related Potential Components. , 3-30 (2012).</li><li>Hajcak, G., Weinberg, A., MacNamara, A., Foti, D., Luck, S. J., Kappenman, E. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=ERPs+and+the+study+of+emotion.">ERPs and the study of emotion.</a> The Oxford Handbook of Event-Related Potential Components. , 441-474 (2012).</li><li>Hugdahl, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Lateralization+of+cognitive+processes+in+the+brain.">Lateralization of cognitive processes in the brain.</a> Acta Psychol. 105 (2-3), 211-235 (2000).</li><li>Kayser, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neuronal+generator+patterns+at+scalp+elicited+by+lateralized+aversive+pictures+reveal+consecutive+stages+of+motivated+attention.">Neuronal generator patterns at scalp elicited by lateralized aversive pictures reveal consecutive stages of motivated attention.</a> NeuroImage. 142 (15), 337-350 (2016).</li><li>Kayser, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Event-Related+Potential+(ERP)+asymmetries+to+emotional+stimuli+in+a+visual+half-field+paradigm.">Event-Related Potential (ERP) asymmetries to emotional stimuli in a visual half-field paradigm.</a> Psychophysiology. 34, 414-426 (1997).</li><li>Smith, E. R., Chenery, H. J., Angwin, A. J., Copland, D. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hemispheric+contributions+to+semantic+activation:+a+divided+visual+field+and+event-related+potential+investigation+of+time-course.">Hemispheric contributions to semantic activation: a divided visual field and event-related potential investigation of time-course.</a> Brain Res. 1284, 125-144 (2009).</li></ol>

In this study, manipulations of stimulus valence and arousal were used with the DVF paradigm to test theories of lateralized processing of emotion as they apply to the motivated attention network. However, DVF methodologies can be used to explore any lateralized processing of visual information. What is critical when using DVF paradigms is the control of the stimuli presentation to ensure that the information is isolated to one hemisphere for initial processing. There are several key steps to the DVF paradigm that contri...

Several theories on lateralized processing have been posited for the two cerebral hemispheres. Among these include theories of emotional processing. The valence model1 proposes that the left hemisphere is specialized for pleasant emotions, while the right hemisphere is specialized for unpleasant emotions. The right hemisphere dominance hypothesis2 proposes that the right hemisphere is specialized for processing all emotional information compared to the left hemisphere. Finally, the Circumplex Theory3 proposes that in addition to frontal asymmetries for valence, the posterior regions of the right hemisphere are specialized for processing all high-arousing emotions. In order to test these lateralized theories of processing, methodologies that can differentiate processing between the two hemispheres must be used. While neuroimaging techniques can provide this information, they are often not readily accessible to most research scientists. Further, many standard cognitive paradigms, even when coupled with neuroimaging methodologies, do not isolate information processed within each hemisphere. Divided visual field (DVF) methodologies provide an avenue for behavioral and psychophysiological scientists to test lateralized theories of processing without the use of neuroimaging techniques.
DVF methodologies are based on the knowledge that a stimulus presented to one visual field is initially received and processed by the contralateral hemisphere4. DVF methodologies utilize lateralized presentations of stimuli at short intervals to allow one cerebral hemisphere to receive the information before the other5. As such, stimuli presented briefly to the right visual field are processed contralaterally by the left hemisphere, and stimuli presented to the left visual field are processed by the right hemisphere. In this manner, differences in initial processing of the information in a single hemisphere can be examined. For example, it is well established that the left hemisphere is specialized for processing linguistic information (for a meta-analysis see reference6). Research using DVF paradigms demonstrate increased processing speed when words are presented to the left hemisphere (i.e., displayed in the right visual field) compared to when presented to the right hemisphere.
In order to assess the processing differences between the two hemispheres, measures with finer temporal resolution than behavioral reaction times may be needed. Event-related potentials (ERPs) derived from human electroencephalography (EEG) data have a temporal resolution on the order of milliseconds (ms). As such, using ERP techniques in concert with DVF methodologies allows for a refined assessment of processing differences between the two hemispheres. Initially, central visual field (CVF) presentations of the stimuli can be used to replicate established ERP effects. Then, DVF presentations of the stimuli can be used to examine the unique contributions of each hemisphere to the propagation of these ERP effects. Of particular interest for the current study7, the late positive potential (LPP) has been identified as an ERP component sensitive to the emotional arousal of a stimulus8. Interestingly, the LPP has not been found to consistently differentiate between unpleasant and pleasant stimuli, but rather, responds equally to emotional stimuli relative to neutral stimuli. This study was designed to test the lateralized processing of emotion theories using the LPP as an index of motivated attention toward emotional stimuli between the two hemispheres.
Further, this study systematically examines both the valence and arousal dimensions of the emotion stimuli across early and late manifestations of the LPP. These stimulus manipulations in combination with both CVF and DVF stimulus presentations are unique to the literature, as they allow for examining the unique and interactive influences of valence, arousal, and hemisphere of processing on the propagation of the LPP. As such, the influence of immediacy for action signaled by unpleasant compared to pleasant stimuli, which should differentially engage motivated attention and thus the LPP, can be explored.

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		<tr height="84">
			<td height="84" style="height:84px;width:216px;">64-channel Ag-AgCl active electrodes</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Cortech Solutions</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">DA-AT-ESP32102064A/DA-AT-ESP32102064B</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">EEG electrodes for data collection</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">ActiveTwo Base System</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Cortech Solutions</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">DA-AT-BCBS</td>
			<td>Digitizes and ampliphies EEG data at 500 Hz</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="84">
			<td height="84" style="height:84px;width:216px;">E-Prime Professional 2.0</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Psychology Software Tools</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">NA</td>
			<td>Stimulus presentation software, available at https://www.pstnet.com/eprime.cfm</td>
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		<tr height="84">
			<td height="84" style="height:84px;width:216px;">CURRY 7.0</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Compumedics Neuroscan</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">NA</td>
			<td>EEG/ERP data processing and analysis, available at http://compumedicsneuroscan.com/products/by-name/curry/</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
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central and divided visual field presentation of emotional images to measure hemispheric differences in motivated attention

Two dominant theories on lateralized processing of emotional information exist in the literature. One theory posits that unpleasant emotions are processed by right frontal regions, while pleasant emotions are processed by left frontal regions. The other theory posits that the right hemisphere is more specialized for the processing of emotional information overall, particularly in posterior regions.
Assessing the different roles of the cerebral hemispheres in processing emotional information can be difficult without the use of neuroimaging methodologies, which are not accessible or affordable to all scientists. Divided visual field presentation of stimuli can allow for the investigation of lateralized processing of information without the use of neuroimaging technology. 
This study compared central versus divided visual field presentations of emotional images to assess differences in motivated attention between the two hemispheres. The late positive potential (LPP) was recorded using electroencephalography (EEG) and event-related potentials (ERPs) methodologies to assess motivated attention. Future work will pair this paradigm with a more active behavioral task to explore the behavioral impacts on the attentional differences found.

To replicate previous research on the LPP, both LPP responses to unpleasant and pleasant images should be larger than LPP responses to neutral images. This is confirmed by the CVF analysis, which finds the LPP in the early epoch to be significantly larger to unpleasant (M = 1.90 &#956;v) and pleasant (M = 1.71 &#956;v) images compared to neutral images (M = 0.72 &#956;v), but unpleasant and pleasant images are not found to be significantly different from each ot...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Central and Divided Visual Field Presentation of Emotional Images to Measure Hemispheric Differences in Motivated Attention at JoVE.com

Central and Divided Visual Field Presentation of Emotional Images to Measure Hemispheric Differences in Motivated Attention

This study compared central versus divided visual field presentations of emotional images to assess differences in motivated attention between the two hemispheres. The late positive potential (LPP) was recorded using electroencephalography (EEG) and event-related potentials (ERPs) methodologies to assess motivated attention.

Two dominant theories on lateralized processing of emotional information exist in the literature. One theory posits that unpleasant emotions are processed ...

The overall goal of this divided visual field event related potential methodology is to observe the unique contribution of each hemisphere of the brain to the processing of emotional stimuli as measured by the late positive potential, or LPP. This method can help to answer key questions in the field of lateralized processing of emotion such as, What are the unique contributions of each hemisphere to the motivated attention network for processing unpleasant versus pleasant stimuli? The main advantage of this technique is that it allows you to assess the processing differences between the two hemispheres of the brain with a fine temporal resolution.Demonstrating the procedure will be Nick Lunny, a grad student in my lab. Zach Gemelli, an undergraduate research assistant in my lab will be playing the role of the participant. Begin by escorting the participant into the testing room and having them read and complete an informed consent.Then have the participant complete a demographic survey to provide sex, age, handedness, native language, vision and neurological history in order to assess inclusion for the study. Next, apply electroencephalography, or EEG electrodes, onto the participant's scalp according to the international 10-20 system. Then, seat the participant in a dark, electrically shielded sound attenuated room.Use a chin rest to stabilize the head and minimize movement. Then, instruct the participant to passively view the image stimuli without shifting their eyes away from the center of the screen. Instruct the participant that a recognition quiz will follow the stimuli, so it is important that they pay attention.Finally, display a fixation cross at the center of the screen to help the participant fixate. For the central visual field, CVF paradigm, have the participant passively view the image stimuli in four experimental blocks of 45 trials each at the center of the screen. Note each block has an equal number of stimuli from the valence arousal conditions.On the other hand, if the participant is randomized to the divided visual field, DVF paradigm, randomly present each image, once in the left visual field and once in the right visual field. Pair each image stimulus with the simultaneous presentation of a solid brown rectangle identical in stimulus dimensions on the opposite side of the fixation in order to reduce reflexive saccades to the stimulus. Next, present each stimulus and its paired brown rectangle with their inside edge three degrees of visual angle from the fixation.Finally, backward mask both the stimulus and the brown rectangle using the same criteria and procedure as was done for the CVF paradigm. The late positive potential, or LPP, in the early epic was significantly larger to unpleasant and pleasant images, which did not differ from each other, compared to neutral images. And high arousing images evoked larger LPP responses than medium arousing images.In the late epic, the LPP was significantly larger to high arousing unpleasant images compared to all other images. Further, the LPP was found to be larger in the early epic compared to the late epic for all image presentations except for high arousing unpleasant images presented to the left hemisphere. The left hemisphere engages high arousing unpleasant images for longer, possibly to create an action plan in response to the images.For the divided visual field procedure, it is important that the participant's eyes stay fixated at the center of the screen to optimize lateralized stimulus processing. For successful divided visual field presentations, carefully control stimulus size, presentation duration and location on the screen. Balance the presentation of your stimulus with the filler stimulus and use backward masking to optimize lateralized stimulus processing.The divided visual field procedure can be used with vent related potentials to investigate lateralized processing of emotion as well as investigate the unique and interactive effects of valence and arousal on the motivated attention network. Divided visual field procedures, in combination with event related potential techniques, can also be used to answer additional questions about a variety of theories of lateralized processing and visual spacial processing systems in the brain.

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7.4K Views.  University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. The overall goal of this divided visual field event related potential methodology is to observe the unique contribution of each hemisphere of the brain to the processing of emotional stimuli as measured by the late positive potential, or LPP. This method can help to answer key questions in the field of lateralized processing of emotion such as, What are the unique contributions of each hemisphere to the motivated attention network for processing unpleasant versus pleasant stimuli? The main ad...