Attentional capture in emotion comparison is orientation independent

Bibliographic Data

ID21533352
AuthorsGiulio Baldassi (0000-0002-2114-3567, University of Trieste), Mauro Murgia (0000-0002-8450-1157, University of Trieste), Valter Prpić (0000-0002-1382-0951, De Montfort University), Sara Rigutti (0000-0001-5028-6535, University of Trieste), Dražen Domijan (0000-0003-2589-3397, University of Rijeka), Tiziano Agostini (0000-0003-0105-2999, University of Trieste), Andrea Dissegna (0000-0002-4333-3353, University of Trieste), Carlo Fantoni (0000-0002-7749-1771, University of Trieste, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume87
Issue2
Pages636-653
Publication date2023-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePsychological Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0340-0727 • E-ISSN: 1430-2772
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1007/s00426-022-01683-x
PMID35552515
OpenAlexW4280532680
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited63

Recent findings on emotion comparison show a typical pattern of motor reactivity rising from attentional capture. When pairs of emotional faces are presented simultaneously, the most intense emotional face is recognized faster (Emotional Semantic Congruency—ESC effect). Furthermore, a global response speed advantage for emotional pairs with positive rather than negative average emotion intensity is observed (i.e., emotional size effect), with the choice for the happiest face resulting in a faster response than the choice for the angriest face within the pair (i.e., the happiness advantage). In two experiments, we asked whether these effects are orientation dependent, and thus linked to whether face processing is holistic or part-based. Participants were asked to choose the angriest/happiest face in emotional pairs displayed either in upright or inverted orientation and including (Experiment 1) or not including (Experiment 2) a neutral face. Beyond an overall facilitation for upright relative to inverted pairs, results showed orientation independent ESC and emotional size effects. Furthermore, the happiness advantage was present in emotional pairs of Experiment 2 but not in emotional pairs of Experiment 1, independently from face orientation. Together, results suggest that attentional capture in emotion comparison is immaterial on the type of face processing, being orientation invariant

Cognitive psychology · Emotional expression · Facilitation · Happiness · Face Recognition and Perception · Mathematics · Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies · Psychology · Social Psychology · Visual perception and processing mechanisms

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