Categorisation of discrete emotions in a new emotional picture database – the Nencki Affective Picture System (NAPS)

Selection of static visual stimuli inducing emotional states in affective research is mostly based on valence and arousal ratings gathered according to dimensional theories of emotion. However, it was shown, using neuroimaging methods that neuronal mechanisms underlying processing of emotionally charged stimuli differ between discrete emotional categories. So far, only the International Affective Picture System (IAPS ; Lang et al., 1997) provides behavioural norms (Mikels et al., 2005) which allow scientists to appropriately select stimuli for research aimed to modulate discrete emotions. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the subjective emotional experience induced by pictorial materials included in the Nencki Affective Picture System database (NAPS ; Marchewka et al., 2013) using discrete emotional categories (happiness, surprise, fear, sadness, disgust and anger).