In one experi ment, after the color manipulation and before (ostensibly) taking
a test, participants selected the number of easy and moderately
difficult items they wanted on the test; selection of easy items is
a classic indicator of avoidance motivation. Results indicated
that participants shown red selected more easy items than those
shown green or gray; participants shown green or gray did not
differ. In the other experiment, after the color manipulation and
prior to (ostensibly) taking a test, participants’ prefrontal cortical
activity was assessed using electroencephalography (EEG);
right (relative to left) prefrontal cortical activity indicates that
avoidance motivation has been activated in the brain. Results
indicated that participants shown red evidenced more right
prefrontal cortical activity than those shown green or gray;
participants shown green and gray did not differ.