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Individual differences in the emotional modulation of gaze-cuing
Sarah D McCrackin1, Roxane J Itier1
1a Department of Psychology , University of Waterloo , Waterloo , Canada.
Cognition & Emotion
|July 10, 2018
Summary
Emotional expressions enhance gaze-cuing for both positive and negative stimuli. However, this effect is reduced in individuals with higher autistic traits, particularly for happy expressions.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Social Neuroscience
- Visual Attention
Background:
- Gaze-cuing, the automatic shift of attention to a gazed-at location, is influenced by facial expressions.
- Previous research indicates emotional cues modulate gaze-cuing, but whether this applies to positive emotions and varies with individual differences remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the emotional modulation of gaze-cuing in the general population.
- To examine how participant sex, trait anxiety, depression, and autistic traits influence this emotional modulation.
Main Methods:
- Meta-analysis of data from seven experiments.
- Assessment of gaze-cuing effects with positive and negative facial expressions.
- Correlation analysis with individual difference measures (sex, anxiety, depression, autistic traits).
Main Results:
- Emotional enhancement of gaze-cuing was observed for both positive (happy) and negative (angry) expressions.
- Higher scores on the Autism Spectrum Quotient's Attention to Detail subscale correlated with reduced emotional enhancement, especially for happy expressions.
- Emotional modulation of gaze-cuing was not significantly affected by anxiety, depression, or sex, though women showed a larger overall gaze-cuing effect.
Conclusions:
- Gaze-cuing is enhanced by both positive and negative emotional expressions.
- Autistic traits, specifically attention to detail, moderate the emotional enhancement of gaze-cuing.
- Individual differences in anxiety, depression, and sex do not significantly alter emotional modulation, with the exception of a generally larger gaze-cuing effect in women.
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