S’il est admis que notre attention est préférentiellement orientée vers les stimuli émotionnels, les dimensions du stimulus qui sont responsables d’un tel biais font toujours l’objet d’un débat. Contrairement aux conceptions classiques qui proposent que l’attention émotionnelle (i.e., l’amélioration du traitement de l’information émotionnelle) est guidée de façon bottom-up par la valence ou l’arousal, le Modèle des Processus Composants propose que l’attention émotionnelle est guidée de façon plutôt top-down par la pertinence des stimuli. Dans cette perspective, l’attention émotionnelle serait un mécanisme à part entière qui serait responsable d’une capture attentionnelle valence non-spécifique et automatique par les stimuli pertinents pour les buts et besoins de l’individu. De plus, un tel mécanisme serait guidé par l’appraisal de l’individu plutôt que par les caractéristiques intrinsèques du stimulus. Dans la première partie expérimentale de cette thèse, nous présentons plusieurs études qui ont été conduites afin de tester l’existence de ce mécanisme. Tout d’abord, les résultats de ces études ont révélé des effets de capture et d’interférence attentionnelles par des stimuli pertinents positifs et négatifs, ce qui est cohérent avec l’idée que l’attention émotionnelle est valence non-spécifique. Ensuite, ces études ont mis en évidence une modulation du biais attentionnel provoqué par un unique stimulus en fonction de sa pertinence, ce qui suggère que l’attention émotionnelle est guidée par l’appraisal de l’individu et non par les caractéristiques intrinsèques du stimulus. Enfin, les données soutiennent aussi l’hypothèse selon laquelle l’attention émotionnelle est automatique, puisque les stimuli pertinents ont provoqué une interférence alors même qu’il était explicitement demandé aux participants de ne pas les traiter. La seconde partie expérimentale de cette thèse s’intéressait à l’effet de la pertinence sur le comportement non-émotionnel subséquent à l’apparition d’un stimulus pertinent. Les résultats de l’étude présentée montrent que la pertinence influence le comportement de façon valence spécifique, en interaction avec les tendances à l’action. Ces données soutiennent aussi un modèle d’organisation des émotions selon deux systèmes motivationnels qui se déploient de l’orientation de l’attention vers la préparation à l’action. Enfin, la troisième partie expérimentale s’intéressait au traitement attentionnel de la pertinence chez une patiente ayant une lésion amygdalienne unilatérale. Les données ont montré une amplification du traitement des stimuli positifs pertinents, interprétée en termes d’effet de contre-régulation affective due à une sensibilité exacerbée de la patiente aux stimuli négatifs. Plus généralement, ce travail de thèse souligne l’importance de la notion d’appraisal, en particulier l’appraisal de pertinence, dans le guidage de l’attention émotionnelle, et dans la mise en œuvre du comportement. / If it is admitted that our attention is preferentially oriented toward emotional stimuli, there is no consensus on which stimulus dimension is responsible for such a bias. Contrary to classical conceptions that propose that emotional attention (i.e., the boosting of the processing of emotional information) is guided in a bottom-up way by negative valence or arousal, the Component Process Model posits that emotional attention is rather guided in a top-down way by the relevance of the stimulus. In that perspective, emotional attention would be a mechanism that can be reduced neither to exogenous nor to endogenous attention that would be responsible for an automatic and valence non-specific attention capture by stimuli that have and important place in the hierarchy of the goals and needs of an individual. Moreover, such a mechanism would be driven by the appraisal of the individual rather than by the intrinsic characteristics of the stimulus. In the first experimental part of this thesis, several studies were conducted in order to test the existence of such a mechanism. First, the results of these studies revealed both attentional captures and interferences by positive and negative relevant stimuli, which is consistent with the idea that emotional attention is valence non-specific. Second, these studies also showed a modulation of the attentional bias produced by a unique stimulus, as a function of its relevance, which suggests that emotional attention is driven by the appraisal of the individual rather than by the intrinsic characteristics of the stimulus. Third, the data also support the hypothesis that emotional attention is automatic, i.e., that it escapes voluntary control, because relevant stimuli provoked an attentional interference even if the participants were explicitly told not to process them. The second experimental part of the thesis focused on the effect of relevance on the non-emotional behaviour following the onset of a relevant stimulus. In this framework, the results of the study presented showed that relevance influences behaviour in a valence specific way, in interaction with action tendencies. The data also provide support to the organization of emotions in two motivational systems that evolve from attention orientation to action preparation. Eventually, the third experimental part dealt with the attentional processing of relevance in a patient with unilateral amygdala lesion. The presented study revealed an amplified processing of positive relevant stimuli that was interpreted in terms of an affective counter-regulation effect that could be caused by an exacerbated sensitivity of the patient to negative stimuli. On the whole this thesis points out the critical role played by the appraisal, particularly the appraisal of relevance, in the guidance of emotional attention, and in the implementation of behaviour.

Attention is a cognitive mechanism that guides our perception in order to prioritize the limited resources to the most relevant information while ignoring distracting information. Attention can be voluntarily deployed to stimuli during tasks or goals, or the features of the stimulus can capture our attention either by being salient or being emotionally induced. Emotions affect multiple different cognitive processes such as attention because emotional stimuli can be relevant for defending or sustain life. This relationship between attention and emotion indicates that there should be interactive but distinct networks between these cognitive mechanisms as well as a modulative effect on perceptional and attentional systems. Emotions were in general demonstrating a facilitation affect on attentional and saccadic processes as well as broadening or narrowing the scope of attention. The reason behind emotions impact on attention was proposed to be for eliciting a change in the application of resources in order to solve the limited capacity problem and possibly to protect and sustain life. Inconsistent findings as well as limitations for emotional attention studies are discussed.

El Centro de Salud Mental busca cubrir las necesidades actuales que tiene Lima de infraestructura privada y especializada para tratar a los pacientes que necesitan atención emocional. En vista de que la causa principal de niños y adolescentes con ansiedad y depresión viene de casa, se incluye a la familia en todo el proceso, por lo que se contempla que el diseño arquitectónico promueva la integración entre los usuarios. ¿La arquitectura puede favorecer a la recuperación de la salud mental?, es la condicionante que me planteo a modo de énfasis para guiar el diseño de mi proyecto. Dentro de la investigación encuentro las respuestas que tomo como lineamientos, los espacios “sociópetos”, en que los usuarios se sienten más cómodos en ambientes ligeramente curvos y con mesas circulares. La incidencia de la luz en los espacios funcionales, que ayuda a reducir la cantidad de medicación que consume el paciente. La permeabilidad entre espacio interior y exterior, que responde a la búsqueda de conexión con la naturaleza y el enfocar la mente del paciente hacia visuales que sean agradables, como patios y jardines. Sin perder la privacidad que la especialidad amerita, por ello se plantea el uso de celosías en toda la fachada, para mantener la visual sin perder la iluminación. Finalmente, el MINSA incluye dentro de su normativa que el proyecto debe promover la capacitación y prevención de la enfermedad, por lo cual se proponen una biblioteca y un auditorio. De esta manera, apoyar al conocimiento y mayor exposición de estas enfermedades, al mismo tiempo que generan ingresos para el centro mediante su alquiler. También se plantea un área de exposiciones cerca al ingreso, donde se mostrarán afiches con más información, para que todos los usuarios siempre tengan información actualizada de manera accesible. / The Mental Health Center seeks to meet Lima's current needs for private and specialized infrastructure to treat patients who need emotional care. Given that the main cause of children and adolescents with anxiety and depression comes from home, their families are included in the whole process, so it is contemplated that the architectural design promotes integration between users. Can architecture favor the recovery of mental health? It is the conditional that I consider as an emphasis to guide the design of my project. Within the research I find the answers that I take as guidelines, “sociópetos” spaces, in which users feel more comfortable in slightly curved environments and with circular tables. The light incident in functional spaces, which helps reduce the amount of medication consumed by the patient. The permeability between interior and exterior space, which responds to the search for connection with nature and to focus the patient's mind towards visuals that are pleasant, such as yards and gardens. Without losing the privacy that the specialty deserves, for this reason the use of lattice framework is proposed throughout the facade, to maintain the visual without losing the lighting. Finally, MINSA includes within its regulations that the project must promote training and prevention of diseases, for which a library and an auditorium are proposed. In this way, support the knowledge and greater exposure of these illnesses, at the same time they generate income for the center through rent. There is also an exhibition area near the entrance, where posters with more information will be displayed, so that all users always have updated information currently. / Tesis