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research conducted with LHD and RHD subjects (i.e., Heilman,
et al., 1978; Meadows & Kaplan, 1994; Zoccolotti et al.,
1982). Additionally, recent evidence by Tranel and Damasio
(1994) suggests that certain regions of the brain within the
left and right hemisphere affect SCR whereas other regions
do not. There findings are discussed more fully below.
Global versus Bivalent Models of Emotion
Subjects displayed differential SCRs in the shock
compared to the no-shock conditions. RHD patients, however,
showed a paucity of responding when their SCR magnitude was
compared to the NCs. This finding is consistent with both
the global and bivalent theories of emotion. Both of these
theories predict that RHD will cause a deficit in emotional
processing of unpleasant or negative emotional states.
Valence effects during the reward condition were needed to
provide overall support for the global or bivalent models.
According to the global theory of emotion, RHD patient would
show deficiencies in the emotional experience of all
emotional states regardless of the valence of the emotion.
Thus, RHD patients should have demonstrated a deficit in SCR
during the reward as well as the shock condition. In
contrast, according to the bivalent view of emotions, the
RHD patients were expected to display normal processing of
positive emotional experiences, whereas the LHD were
expected to show deficiencies in processing of pleasant
experiences. Moreover, since SCR did not reliable