Observer and Target Sex Differences in the Change Detection of Facial Expressions: A Change Blindness Study

摘要: ABSTRACT Since the human face has a great social/biological importance, cognitive system should have special capacity to prioritize facial expressions which signal potential threat (e.g., Fox et al., 2000; Hansen & Hansen, 1988). Regarding this superiority for threatening faces, we hypothesized that changes from neutral angry faces will be detected faster than other emotional changes. Additionally investigated change detection performance fearful/happy since some contradictory findings been reported. Observer sex differences were also investigated. Real photographs utilized enhance ecological validity and perception of was examined by using flicker paradigm. The revealed male attract more attention compared expressions. However there no advantage female faces: angry/fearful/happy in are equally processed attentional system. KEYWORDS: detection, expressions, INTRODUCTION It is well known beings pay objects important their being. When allocated highly relevant stimuli or events, lead enhanced processing trigger synchronized autonomic, motor, motivational prepare organism adaptive responses Brosch, Sander, Scherer, 2007). Findings indicate times biologically significant stimuli, such as (Ro, Russel, Lavie, 2001; Theeuwes Van der Stigchel, 2006), newborn baby (Brosch al. 2007), snakes spiders (Ohman, Flykt, Esteves, 2001). These studies support notion preferential high biological significance brain. A very visual pattern both socially biologically. By looking at face, can understand sex, age, mood, direction gaze, emotion person. means speechless communication. There robust captures any object scene Ro Moreover, early expression crucial. Early sense it might reduce likelihood confrontation may possibly end fatal injury. As summarized below, many effect different on attention. (1988) developed an variant search task called "face-in-the-crowd task". In task, individuals asked determine whether displays four nine same one rest. indicated located happy crowd they found crowd. among eight took longer find three angry, whereas just rapidly faces. Because time needed detect not affected number distracters, authors concluded (angry faces) automatically. (2000) replicated experiments with improved methodology out efficient, but automatic, over However, phenomenon become controversial recent years methodological problems regarding distracters (Fox 2000), failures replication Nothdurft, 1993; White, 1995), motor preparation proposed alternative explanation reaction speeding (Flykt, 2006). Two typical methods used capture attention: modification classic spatial cueing paradigm Stroop task. …