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Facial electromyographic responses to vocal affect expressions
J K Hietanen1, V Surakka, I Linnankoski
1Department of Physiology, University of Helsinki, Finland. psjahi@uta.fi
Psychophysiology
|August 26, 1998
Summary
Hearing vocal affect expressions triggers facial muscle activity and influences approach-withdrawal tendencies. Emotional contagion (EC) modulates these responses, indicating that emotions like anger and contentment are contagious through vocal cues.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Vocal affect expressions are crucial for social communication.
- Understanding the link between auditory emotional stimuli and physiological/behavioral responses is key to social cognition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate facial electromyographic (EMG) responses to vocal affect expressions.
- To measure emotion-related action tendencies (approach/withdrawal) in response to vocal affect.
- To assess the role of emotional contagion (EC) in modulating these responses.
Main Methods:
- Facial electromyography (EMG) to measure muscle activity.
- Self-report measures for approach-withdrawal tendencies.
- Questionnaire-based scale for emotional contagion (EC).
Main Results:
- Anger expressions increased brow EMG activity; contentment activated periocular regions.
- Anger elicited withdrawal tendencies; neutral and contentment expressions evoked approach tendencies.
- Individual differences in EC correlated with distinct EMG response patterns.
Conclusions:
- Vocal affect expressions elicit specific facial EMG patterns and action tendencies.
- Emotional contagion influences the processing of vocal affect.
- Emotions are contagious through auditory perception of human vocalizations.