Abstract

Introduction: There have been many concerns made about the non-conscious impact of exposure to violence and pornography. In our modern society where access to these stimuli is ubiquitous, the desire to investigate whether these concerns are apt is paramount. In the present Electroencephalography (EEG) study, baseline brain activity measures related to violent, erotic, pleasant, unpleasant and neutral images were taken, analysed and are shown. This forms the basis for further EEG measures related to those images after controlled exposure to violence and pornography. Methods: Fifty two male University students were recruited into the study where they were fitted with EEG recording equipment and asked to view and rate emotion inducing IAPS images of above mentioned categories. Images were presented on a screen and were categorised into 1 of the 5 categories. Participants were asked to view and rate each image based on degrees of pleasantness and arousal. EEG recordings were taken and processed and resulting ERPs were analysed. Results: Baseline EEG effects showed that viewing violent and unpleasant images elicited similar ERP curves, as does viewing pleasant and neutral stimuli. Erotic stimuli as predicted showed the biggest difference between each of the image categories. Conclusion: Results indicate that even without priming there are ERP effects, which are discernible between each category. “Violent” and “Unpleasant” stimuli as predicted showed very similar ERP curves and also as predicted, “Erotic” images elicited the most varied response.