A CULTURAL NEUROSCIENCE PERSPECTIVE IN THE PROCESS OF EMOTION: A MALAYSIAN CONTEXT
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51200/sapj.v13i1.5767Keywords:
Electrophysiology, Emotion Processing, ERP N200 Component, Cultural EmotionAbstract
Cultural factor plays a crucial role in shaping how emotions are experienced, expressed, regulated, and physiologically manifested during emotional arousal. This study examines electrophysiological evidence related to emotional arousal, using culturally relevant visual stimuli featuring Malaysian-oriented images. The research was conducted in two parts. In part one, 47 participants self-rated their emotional responses to a series of Malaysian-oriented images using the Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM), which ranged from 1 (calm) to 9 (excited). Based on participants' ratings, the images were categorized into low, moderate, and high arousal levels and subsequently programmed into E-Prime for further measurements. In part two, during an Event-Related Potential (ERP) session conducted in the Neuroscience Laboratory, participants (N=30) viewed the categorized images, which elicited varying levels of emotional intensity, while electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded using a 128-channel HydroCel GSN connected to a high-input impedance Net Amps 300 amplifier. Notable shifts in emotional arousal, particularly in the mid-frontal (Fz) and frontal polar regions (Fp1, Fp2), were reflected by the N200 amplitude. These results underscore the role of cultural context in shaping brain activity during emotional processing, highlighting the importance of incorporating cultural perspectives when examining the neural mechanisms of emotion and behavior.
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