Facial beauty and the late positive component of event‐related potentials

The appraisal of facial beauty is rapid but not mandatory

“…Similar to Schupp et al's (2003a) account of emotion effects on ERPs, we propose that the present ERP findings for less attractive faces (Johnston & Oliver-Rodríguez, 1997;Oliver-Rodríguez et al, 1999;Werheid et al, 2007). Two observations from the present study are at variance with these previous reports.…”

“…Whereas the present study used high-quality color photographs, the studies of Johnston and coworkers (Johnston & Oliver-Rodríguez, 1997;Oliver-Rodríguez et al, 1999) employed schematic line drawings with electronically manipulated proportions. Furthermore, in comparison with our previous study (Werheid et al, 2007), the present study used a wider range of stimuli with regard to facial attractiveness, indicated by comparing the attractiveness ratings of both experiments.…”

“…First, the above-mentioned study by Johnston and Oliver-Rodríguez (1997, Figure 5) appeared to show an early effect around 250 msec for attractiveness, which unfortunately was not analyzed. Second, two further studies revealed even earlier ERP modulations, possibly related to attractiveness appraisal, either for the P100 time range (Pizzagalli, Regard, & Lehmann, 1999) or for the P100 and subsequent N170 and P200 components (Halit, de Haan, & Johnson, 2000).…”

“…x Johnston and coworkers conducted two studies involving the presentation of facial portraits that varied in specific attractiveness-related features (e.g., chin length; Johnston & Oliver-Rodríguez, 1997;Oliver-Rodríguez, Guan, & Johnston, 1999). Faces rated as attractive elicited larger LPC amplitudes at parietal and central electrodes between 400 and 600 msec after target onset.…”

Limitations of traditional morphometrics in research on the attractiveness of faces

“…This is because the average of attractive faces is rated more attractive than the average of nonattractive faces (Johnston & Oliver-Rodriguez, 1997;Perrett, May, & Yoshikawa, 1994), and the femininity of a woman's face is a much more powerful correlate of beauty than its prototypicality (Rhodes, 2006); the prototypical female face is at the 50th percentile of femininity among women. But we have no indications that these requirements are met in Rhodes et al, and they would be difficult to fulfill.…”