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The modulation of object-based attentional selection by facial expressions
Saisai Hu1,2,3, Tingkang Zhang1,2,3, Yongchun Wang4
1School of Psychology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China.
Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology (2006)
|January 15, 2021
Summary
Negative facial expressions capture attention more strongly, hindering attentional disengagement from the entire face (object-based attention) rather than just a location (space-based attention). This supports attentional prioritization over spreading.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Visual Perception
Background:
- Facial expressions influence human attentional bias.
- The basis of this modulation (object-based vs. space-based attention) remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether attentional bias by facial expressions is object-based or space-based.
- To determine if emotional valence modulates attentional selection.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the two-rectangle paradigm with faces of varying emotional valences (positive, neutral, negative).
- Conducted three experiments to analyze space-based and object-based attentional effects.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in space-based effects across emotional conditions.
- Object-based effects were significantly larger for negative facial expressions.
- Slower reaction times observed for invalid different-object trials with negative faces.
Conclusions:
- Facial expressions modulate object-based attentional selection.
- Negative emotions impede attentional disengagement from the entire face object.
- Findings support the attentional prioritization hypothesis over attentional spreading.
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