The influence of positive mood on different aspects of cognitive control

Abstract

Some evidence suggests that positive mood influences cognitive control. The current research investigated whether positive mood has differential effects on two aspects of cognitive control, working memory and prepotent response inhibition. In Study 1, following either a positive or neutral mood induction, participants completed the Running Memory Span (RMS), a measure primarily of working memory storage capacity, and the Stroop task, a measure of prepotent response inhibition. Results were that the positive mood group performed worse on the RMS task but not on the Stroop task. In Study 2, participants completed the RMS and another measure of prepotent response inhibition, the Flanker task. Results were that when in a positive mood state participants performed worse on the RMS but not on the Flanker task. Overall, this research suggests that positive mood has differential effects on cognitive control, impairing working memory but having no effect on prepotent response inhibition.

Keywords:

• Positive mood
• Cognitive control
• Working memory
• Storage capacity
• Prepotent response inhibition

Acknowledgements

Work on this article was supported by National Institute of Mental Health Grant MH072706, National Institute on Drug Abuse Grant DA022405, and a MU Research Board Grant. This article is based on portions of a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts by EAM.

We thank committee members Nelson Cowan and Chris Robert for their contributions.