Graduate Student Research Symposium 2025

Background: The effect of military-related emotional words on information processing was investigated in unisensory (visual and auditory) and multisensory (audiovisual) contexts. Specifically, the research focused on how the emotional valence of words that are presented in both unisensory and multisensory formats can modulate information processing in both civilian and military participants. Due to the emotional connection with stimuli of a military nature, it was hypothesized that military words would significantly distract the military participants from the core experimental Stroop task, consequently leading to slower responses and lower accuracies. The effect was expected to be greater in auditory and multisensory conditions, given the emphasis on auditory communication in the military.
Methodology/Principal findings: Military and nonmilitary participants completed a modified emotional Stroop task in visual, audio, and audiovisual modalities. As hypothesized, military words resulted in greater interference in the military sample, particularly for auditory and multisensory presentations.