Patterns of brain asymmetry in the perception of positive and negative facial expressions

Abstract

The divided visual field technique was used to investigate the pattern of brain asymmetry in the perception of positive/approach and negative/withdrawal facial expressions. A total of 80 undergraduate students (65 female, 15 male) were distributed in five experimental groups in order to investigate separately the perception of expressions of happiness, surprise, fear, sadness, and the neutral face. In each trial a target and a distractor expression were presented simultaneously in a computer screen for 150 ms and participants had to determine the side (left or right) on which the target expression was presented. Results indicated that expressions of happiness and fear were identified faster when presented in the left visual field, suggesting an advantage of the right hemisphere in the perception of these expressions. Fewer judgement errors and faster reaction times were also observed for the matching condition in which emotional faces were presented in the left visual field and neutral faces in the right visual field. Other results indicated that positive expressions (happiness and surprise) were perceived faster and more accurately than negative ones (sadness and fear). Main results tend to support the right hemisphere hypothesis, which predicts a better performance of the right hemisphere to perceive emotions, as opposed to the approach-withdrawal hypothesis.

Models of hemispheric specialization in facial emotion perception—a reevaluation.

“…Alves, Aznar-Casanova, & Fukusima, (2009) found faster responses to LVF presentations only for happy and fearful faces but not for sad and surprise stimuli. However, the authors interpreted their finding as support for the Right Hemisphere Hypothesis (Alves et al, 2009). Likewise, a series of other studies, found faster responses and/or higher accuracy for the perception of emotional faces presented to the LVF.…”

“…Several of these VHF studies have shown results favoring the Right Hemisphere model in facial emotion perception (Alves et al, 2009;Buchtel et al, 1978;Hugdahl et al, 1989Hugdahl et al, , 1993McKeever & Dixon, 1981;McLaren & Bryson, 1987;Landis et al, 1979;Ley & Bryden, 1979;Safer, 1981;Strauss & Moscovitch, 1981;Suberi & McKeever, 1977). Specifically, Safer (1981) revealed higher accuracy rates for recognizing facial emotions presented in the left visual field (LVF) using the six basic emotions.…”

“…The right hemisphere and the valence-specific models in facial emotion perception have been evaluated by a large number of studies using the VHF technique (Alves, Aznar-Casanova, & Fukusima, 2009;Burton & Levy, 1989;Buchtel, Campari, DeRisio, & Rotal, 1978;Hugdahl, Iversen, Ness, & Flaten, 1989;Hugdahl, Iversen, & Johnsen, 1993;Jansari, Rodway, & Goncalves, 2011;McKeever & Dixon, 1981;Landis, Assal, & Perret, 1979;Ley & Bryden, 1979;ReuterLorenz & Davidson, 1981;Rodway, Wright, & Hardie, 2003;Safer, 1981;Stafford & Brandaro, 2010;Strauss & Moscovitch, 1981;Suberi & McKeever, 1977;Van Strien & Van Beek, 2000). The VHF paradigm is an experimental technique that relies on the visual projections from the right and left hemiretina of the eyes to the right and left cerebral hemispheres, respectively.…”

“…Specifically, Safer (1981) revealed higher accuracy rates for recognizing facial emotions presented in the left visual field (LVF) using the six basic emotions. Similarly, Alves, Aznar-Casanova, & Fukusima, (2009) tested five groups of healthy controls with an assigned emotional target of happy, surprise, fearful, sad or neutral expression and asked participants to indicate the VHF where the target was presented. Alves, Aznar-Casanova, & Fukusima, (2009) found faster responses to LVF presentations only for happy and fearful faces but not for sad and surprise stimuli.…”

“…Similarly, Alves, Aznar-Casanova, & Fukusima, (2009) tested five groups of healthy controls with an assigned emotional target of happy, surprise, fearful, sad or neutral expression and asked participants to indicate the VHF where the target was presented. Alves, Aznar-Casanova, & Fukusima, (2009) found faster responses to LVF presentations only for happy and fearful faces but not for sad and surprise stimuli. However, the authors interpreted their finding as support for the Right Hemisphere Hypothesis (Alves et al, 2009).…”