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Effects of reader's facial expression on syntactic processing: A brain potential study.
Laura Jiménez-Ortega1, Esperanza Badaya2, David Hernández-Gutiérrez3
1Center for Human Evolution and Behaviour, UCM-ISCIII, Madrid, Spain; Psychobiology & Methods for the Behavioral Sciences Department, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Brain Research
|March 2, 2020
Summary
Facial expressions influence language comprehension. Posing a frown during sentence processing increased an N400 brainwave component, while smiling reduced it, suggesting motor-language system interaction.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Psycholinguistics
- Embodied Cognition
Background:
- Embodied theories propose facial sensorimotor activity impacts language understanding.
- Previous research suggests facial expressions can modulate cognitive processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if facial expressions affect syntactic processing during sentence comprehension.
- To measure brain responses using event-related potentials (ERPs).
Main Methods:
- Participants performed a sentence correctness judgment task.
- Four facial expression conditions were tested: neutral, frown, smile (pencil in teeth), and non-smile (pencil with lips).
- Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded.
Main Results:
- The typical left anterior negativity (LAN) component was absent across all conditions.
- An N400-like component emerged, significantly larger during frowning.
- The N400 component was reduced in both smile and non-smile conditions.
Conclusions:
- Facial expressions, particularly frowning, modulate syntactic language processing.
- Results support an interplay between the motor system and language comprehension.
- Findings may reflect unconscious emotion induction or motor-language system interaction.
