scholarly journals Processing of Fear and Anger Facial Expressions: The Role of Spatial Frequency

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
William E. Comfort ◽  
Meng Wang ◽  
Christopher P. Benton ◽  
Yossi Zana
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abigail Webb ◽  
Paul Hibbard

Perceptual biases for fearful facial expressions are observed across many studies. According to the low-level, visual-based account of these biases, fear expressions are advantaged in some way due to their image properties, such as low spatial frequency content. Breaking continuous flash suppression (b-CFS) has explored these effects, and demonstrated similar biases for detecting fearful facial expressions. However, there is a degree of empirical disagreement regarding the range of spatial frequency content. Recent findings from a b-CFS study highlight the role of high, rather than low spatial frequency content in determining faces’ visibility. The present study contributes to ongoing discussions regarding the efficacy of b-CFS, and shows that the visibility of facial expressions varies according to how faces are normalised for physical contrast and spatially filtered. Findings show limited evidence of a bias for detecting fearful facial expressions, but importantly, they show that such biases are less likely to occur when faces are normalised for apparent, perceived contrast, compared to physical contrast. Together these findings further the current understanding of the combined effects of spatial frequency and contrast on face visibility under b-CFS, and raise important questions regarding procedures used to standardise facial stimuli.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abigail L. M. Webb ◽  
Paul B. Hibbard

Abstract Perceptual biases for fearful facial expressions are observed across many studies. According to the low-level, visual-based account of these biases, fear expressions are advantaged in some way due to their image properties, such as low spatial frequency content. However, there is a degree of empirical disagreement regarding the range of spatial frequency information responsible for perceptual biases. Breaking continuous flash suppression (b. CFS) has explored these effects, showing similar biases for detecting fearful facial expressions. Recent findings from a b. CFS study highlight the role of high, rather than low spatial frequency content in determining faces’ visibility. The present study contributes to ongoing discussions regarding the efficacy of b. CFS, and shows that the visibility of facial expressions vary according to how they are normalised for physical contrast and spatially filtered. Findings show that physical contrast normalisation facilitates fear’s detectability under b. CFS more than when normalised for apparent contrast, and that this effect is most pronounced when faces are high frequency filtered. Moreover, normalising faces’ perceived contrast does not guarantee equality between expressions’ visibility under b. CFS. Findings have important implications for the use of contrast normalisation, particularly regarding the extent to which contrast normalisation facilitates fear bias effects.


Pain ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 158 (11) ◽  
pp. 2233-2242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shan Wang ◽  
Christopher Eccleston ◽  
Edmund Keogh

Crisis ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Chao S. Hu ◽  
Jiajia Ji ◽  
Jinhao Huang ◽  
Zhe Feng ◽  
Dong Xie ◽  
...  

Abstract. Background: High school and university teachers need to advise students against attempting suicide, the second leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds. Aims: To investigate the role of reasoning and emotion in advising against suicide. Method: We conducted a study with 130 students at a university that specializes in teachers' education. Participants sat in front of a camera, videotaping their advising against suicide. Three raters scored their transcribed advice on "wise reasoning" (i.e., expert forms of reasoning: considering a variety of conditions, awareness of the limitation of one's knowledge, taking others' perspectives). Four registered psychologists experienced in suicide prevention techniques rated the transcripts on the potential for suicide prevention. Finally, using the software Facereader 7.1, we analyzed participants' micro-facial expressions during advice-giving. Results: Wiser reasoning and less disgust predicted higher potential for suicide prevention. Moreover, higher potential for suicide prevention was associated with more surprise. Limitations: The actual efficacy of suicide prevention was not assessed. Conclusion: Wise reasoning and counter-stereotypic ideas that trigger surprise probably contribute to the potential for suicide prevention. This advising paradigm may help train teachers in advising students against suicide, measuring wise reasoning, and monitoring a harmful emotional reaction, that is, disgust.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 13
Author(s):  
Heting Wang ◽  
Vidya Gaddy ◽  
James Ross Beveridge ◽  
Francisco R. Ortega

The role of affect has been long studied in human–computer interactions. Unlike previous studies that focused on seven basic emotions, an avatar named Diana was introduced who expresses a higher level of emotional intelligence. To adapt to the users various affects during interaction, Diana simulates emotions with dynamic facial expressions. When two people collaborated to build blocks, their affects were recognized and labeled using the Affdex SDK and a descriptive analysis was provided. When participants turned to collaborate with Diana, their subjective responses were collected and the length of completion was recorded. Three modes of Diana were involved: a flat-faced Diana, a Diana that used mimicry facial expressions, and a Diana that used emotionally responsive facial expressions. Twenty-one responses were collected through a five-point Likert scale questionnaire and the NASA TLX. Results from questionnaires were not statistically different. However, the emotionally responsive Diana obtained more positive responses, and people spent the longest time with the mimicry Diana. In post-study comments, most participants perceived facial expressions on Diana’s face as natural, four mentioned uncomfortable feelings caused by the Uncanny Valley effect.


2009 ◽  
Vol 65 ◽  
pp. S106
Author(s):  
Akihiro Kimura ◽  
Satoshi Shimegi ◽  
Shin-ichiro Hara ◽  
Masahiro Okamoto ◽  
Hiromichi Sato

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-211
Author(s):  
Maja Nordtug ◽  
Jane Ege Møller ◽  
Signe Schlichting Matthiesen ◽  
Matilde Nisbeth Brøgger

It is well-known that non-verbal cues are essential in doctor–patient communication. As doctor–patient communication is turning increasingly digital and written, it becomes relevant to explore the role of non-verbal cues in such communication genres. One more recent genre is the doctor–patient e-mail consultation. Research has found that while patients like e-mail consultations, they also miss facial expressions, eye contact, etc. In this study, we explored the different ways in which Danish GPs use non-verbal cues in e-mail consultations. We analysed 633 e-mail consultations written by 22 GPs. We applied the concept of oralization, which includes the use of emoticons and non-standard use of grammar and spatial arrangement. We found that the dominant types of oralizations were non-corrected spelling errors and lack of attention to capitalization. Overall, GPs used a limited number of other non-verbal cues. We discuss how these findings relate to norms of formality and professional context.


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