CORTICAL EVOKED POTENTIALS TO SEMANTIC STIMULI

ABSTRACT The influence of affective meaning on the photically evoked response was studied in male college students. Three sets of stimuli were used: taboo words, neutral words, and blank flashes. Two blocks of trials were run for each stimulus, one in which the S responded by calling the stimulus presented, and a second in which the S was not required to respond. The late components of the evoked potential were significantly related to both the stimulus and response conditions. Amplitude 2 was larger for the taboo words than for either the neutral words or the blank flash. The taboo words had a significantly greater amplitude 3 than neutral words, and both sets of words had higher amplitude 3 than the blank flash. The stimulus effect was discussed in terms of the possible influence of anatomical structures involved in emotional behavior on the visual evoked response. The response effect was felt to be the result of the increased attention required under the response condition.