Effects of emotion on auditory ERPs are independent of manipulated target relevance.

= 40, each), we examined event-related potentials (ERPs) toward target relevant or irrelevant negative, neutral, or positive sounds. Target relevance was induced by the instruction to respond blockwise to either negative, neutral, or positive sounds. Emotional sounds elicited increased fronto-central N1 and P2 amplitudes and a larger late positive potential (LPP), with more sustained effects for negative sounds. Target relevance increased amplitudes during an early LPP interval (400-900 ms) but did not interact with the valence of the sounds. These results show early and late ERP modulations for natural sounds, which do not interact with the target relevance of the sound valence, in contrast to findings from the visual domain. Thus, findings indicate little temporal overlap between emotional processes and target relevance effects in the auditory domain. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).