This text investigates the intersection of emotional valence and visual perception to determine how internal states influence the processing of external stimuli. The authors, Richard L. Roe and Rich Jones, synthesize foundational research in cognitive psychology and neuroscience to construct a framework for understanding how human subjects interpret visual information through the lens of affective bias. By examining experimental data and historical case studies, the authors argue that cognitive appraisal is inextricably linked to the emotional significance assigned to objects and environments.

This volume is frequently utilized as a supplemental resource for undergraduate courses in cognitive psychology due to its clear synthesis of complex experimental data. Experts highlight the text for its structured approach to explaining how emotional states modulate sensory input in controlled environments.