A Test of Kinsbourne's Selective Activation Model

Abstract

Kinsbourne's selective activation model (1985) was investigated in a sample of 28 strongly right-dominant males. Priming manipulations were hypothesized preferentially to activate a hemisphere and to decrease reaction time on an affect recognition task in the contralateral visual field. The left hemisphere manipulation consisted of subvocal verbal rehearsal, while imagery served as the right hemisphere task. Baseline performance was evaluated via a control condition. No priming was found, but the experimental tasks had significant interference effects. Interference was noted across visual fields for both experimental manipulations relative to the control condition, suggesting the hemispheres were not preferentially recruited. Furthermore, the processing of happy faces was more susceptible to interference than was that of angry faces. Conceptual and methodological issues are presented to account for the former finding and data relevant to the laterality of affect perception may explain the latter.

Key Words:

• Selective activation model
• dual-task
• face perception
• emotion