Three Patterns of Motion Which Change the Perception of Emotional Faces

Elementary motion perception interferes with Film-induced emotions

“…According to their results in adults, a wave-like motion is linked to positive emotions whereas a parabolic motion is related to negative emotions and a translational motion is neutral/slightly positive (see motion patterns in Figure 1). In line with these findings, Chafi, Schiaratura, and Rusinek (2012) showed that out of the three above-mentioned patterns, the wave-like motion: (i) is the most arousing motion, (ii) increases the arousal induced by a happy face, (iii) impairs the recognition of a disgusted face, (iv) increases the intensity of surprised and happy faces, and (v) decreases the intensity of an angry face. The authors also found interesting results concerning the parabolic motion which: (i) is the least arousing motion, (ii) increases the recognition of a fearful face, and (iii) increases the intensity of a sad face.…”

“…In short, Chafi et al (2012) showed that the wave-like motion decreased the perception of negative faces whereas the parabolic motion decreased the perception of positive faces. This finding is in accordance with previous data from Podevin et al (2012).…”

“…Negative) which were taken from the validated database of Schaefer, Nils, Sanchez, and Philippot (2010). It is hypothesized that the same type of congruence found by Chafi et al (2012) will appear, namely, (i) the Wavelike motion shall increase the perceived intensity and positive emotions related to the Positive film, and (ii) the Parabolic motion shall increase the perceived intensity and negative emotions related to the Negative film. If expected outcomes were obtained, the authors aim to generalize these patterns of movement and they could be used as a priming stimulus in camera and object motion for eliciting emotions or certain cognitive abilities (Chafi, Rusinek, Schiaratura, Delescluse, & Brouillet, in press) or in movies showing abstract shapes such as those of Michotte (1946) and Heider and Simmel (1944).…”

“…Nevertheless, in both studies, stimuli were static presentations: either static words or static pictures taken from the Karolinska Directed Emotional Faces (KDEF; Lundqvist, Flykt, & Öhman, 1998). According to late studies (Ambadar, Schooler, & Cohn, 2005;Detenber, Simons, & Bennett, 1998;Ravaja, Podevin et al (2012), and Chafi et al (2012) 2004; Simons, Detenber, Reiss, & Shults, 2000), the difference between static and dynamic displays is huge in emotional experiences, whether the measures were objective (e.g., skin conductance) or subjective (i.e., self-reports). An example of ecological dynamic situation in which the wave-like and parabolic motion can be differentiated is definitely sports' perception.…”

Further evidence of early development of attention to dynamic facial emotions: Reply to Grossmann and Jessen

“…For example, the amount, direction, type (i.e., wave-like, parabolic; Chafi, Schiaratura, & Rusinek, 2012), timing (Bould & Morris, 2008), and location of movement (i.e., upper vs. lower face areas) have been found to differ across emotions. Of special relevance to the current study is the difference between fear and happy emotions, with fear identification being driven primarily by changes in the upper region (i.e., the widening of the eyes; Calder, Young, Keane, & Dean, 2000; Fiorentini & Viviani, 2009), whereas happiness is identified primarily through changes in the lower region (i.e., pulling the corners of the mouth into a smile; Calder et al, 2000; Fiorentini & Viviani, 2009).…”