Peripheral Information’s Effect on Emotional Intensity Depends on Depression Level

This research examined the effect of peripheral information on emotional responses and depression-related differences in this effect. In two experiments, undergraduate students, representing a subclinical sample with varying levels of depression, rated their emotional responses to neutral and negative target pictures. The target pictures were presented alone or with negative and neutral peripheral pictures (Study 1), or with negative and positive pictures (Study 2). As predicted, across studies, depressive symptoms were associated with more negative emotional responses to neutral pictures when these were presented in the context of peripheral negative pictures as compared to neutral or positive peripheral pictures. Contrary to predictions, positive peripheral pictures did not attenuate responses to negative target pictures, and depression did not moderate the effect of positive information on emotional responses. These results highlight the potential impact of contextual negative peripheral information on the emotional responses of individuals with depressive symptoms and suggest avenues for exploring interventions aimed at modifying negative affective responses. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).