Processing emotion information from both the face and body: An eye-movement study

Citation

Ietswaart M, Shields K & Engelhardt PE (2012) Processing emotion information from both the face and body: An eye-movement study. Cognition and Emotion, 26 (4), pp. 699-709. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2011.588691

Abstract
This study examined the perception of emotional expressions, focusing on the face and the body. Photographs of four actors expressing happiness, sadness, anger, and fear were presented in congruent (e.g., happy face with happy body) and incongruent (e.g., happy face with fearful body) combinations. Participants selected an emotional label using a four-option categorisation task. Reaction times and accuracy for the categorisation judgement, and eye movements were the dependent variables. Two regions of interest were examined: face and body. Results showed better accuracy and faster reaction times for congruent images compared to incongruent images. Eye movements showed an interaction in which there were more fixations and longer dwell times to the face and fewer fixations and shorter dwell times to the body with incongruent images. Thus, conflicting information produced a marked effect on information processing in which participants focused to a greater extent on the face compared to the body.

Keywords
Emotion; Facial expressions; Body emotion; Eye movements; Emotion perception

Journal
Cognition and Emotion: Volume 26, Issue 4

People

Dr Magdalena Ietswaart

Senior Lecturer, Psychology