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Hemifacial asymmetry in emotion expressions
1Department of Psychology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.
Behavior Modification
|May 1, 1998
Summary
Facial emotion expression shows asymmetry, with left-side composites perceived as more intense. Females express sadness more intensely than males, but happiness expression shows no significant sex difference.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Human Behavior
Background:
- Facial expressions are key to nonverbal communication.
- Understanding emotional expression asymmetry can reveal brain lateralization.
- Previous research suggests potential differences in facial emotion expression between sexes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate facial asymmetry in the expression of happiness and sadness.
- To determine if left or right hemifacial composites are perceived as more emotionally intense.
- To explore sex differences in the expression of these emotions.
Main Methods:
- Creation of hemifacial composite photographs (left-left and right-right).
- Subjects rated the intensity of expressed emotions from these composites.
- Statistical analysis to compare ratings between composite types and sexes.
Main Results:
- Left-left hemifacial composites were rated as more emotionally intense than right-right composites.
- A significant Sex x Emotion interaction was found for sadness.
- Females were perceived as more expressive than males in sad facial expressions, but not in happy ones.
Conclusions:
- Facial emotion expression exhibits lateral asymmetry, favoring the left hemiface for intensity.
- Sex influences the expression of sadness, with females showing greater perceived intensity.
- These findings contribute to understanding the neural basis of emotional expression and sex differences.