Recognition of dynamic angry expressions in socially anxious individuals: An ERP study

Dynamic facial expressions provide temporal information and ecological validity. In this study, participants with high and low social anxiety were instructed to recognise dynamic expressions of anger at different intensities (15 %, 21 %, 27 %, 33 %, 39 %, 45 %). At the same time, their brain electrical activity was recorded. In terms of behavioural results, the high socially anxious (HSA) group had higher accuracy in recognising dynamic angry facial expressions than the low socially anxious (LSA) group. Compared to the lower anger intensities, participants identified the higher anger intensities with increased accuracy and decreased reaction time (RT). In the electrophysiological results, the HSA group showed increased P3 and LPP amplitudes at intensities of 15 %, 21 %, 27 %, 33 % compared to the LSA group. However, there were no significant differences between the two groups at 39 % and 45 % intensity. The differences between the groups in P1 and P2 amplitudes were not significant. Our findings suggest that when dynamic angry expressions are ambiguous, high socially anxious individuals are more deeply encoded than low socially anxious individuals, which has important implications for the development of interventions.