Perceptual Conformity in Facial Emotion Processing

摘要: The ability to recognize and respond quickly visual signals of threat is critical for survival. Threatening faces are hypothesized capture attention more rapidly than nonthreatening faces. This experiment tested the perceptual conformity hypothesis, which predicts that differences elicited by threatening vs. depend on whether inner facial features follow curvature outer surround. In a pre-experimental study, 38 participants rated affect stimuli with without These ratings determined an experimental flankers task, was completed 35 different participants. Flanker displays included compatible incompatible trials, in flanker stimuli, if responded to, would or not have same response as centrally-located targets. examined a) emotionally neutral surround-present surround-absent containing conforming nonconforming lines, generated flanker-effect asymmetries been reported angry happy faces; b) lines generate interference those both surround conditions. No asymmetry difference were obtained either condition. For reaction times significantly faster targets opposed trials. there no time between lines. results consistent hypothesis. One potential reason may account distribution Some other feature explain previously documented asymmetries, override contributions these asymmetries. Such interpretations clouded, however, inconclusive potentially confounded extant literature scant evidence based threat. Assuming validity differences, future research needed elucidate attributes consistently elicit such convey specific categories emotion.