Multivoxel Pattern Analysis Does Not Provide Evidence to Support the Existence of Basic Emotions

摘要: Saarimaki et al. (2015) published a paper claiming to find the neural "fingerprints" for anger, fear, disgust, happiness, sadness, and surprise using multivariate pattern analysis. There are 2 ways in which al.'s interpretation mischaracterizes their actual findings. The first is statistical: that successfully distinguishes members of one category from another (with an accuracy greater than might be expected by chance) not "fingerprint" (i.e., essence); it abstract, statistical summary variable population instances. second way results conceptual: findings do actually meet specific criteria basic emotion theory. Instead, more consistent with theory constructed emotion. In our view, elegant method important demonstrates empirical support relies on thinking; also example how essentialism-the belief all instances possesses necessary features define what is, not, member-contributes fundamental misunderstanding basis