Tuning the developing brain to social signals of emotions.
Humans in different cultures develop a similar capacity to recognize the emotional signals of diverse facial expressions. This capacity is mediated by a brain network that involves emotion-related brain circuits and higher-level visual-representation areas. Recent studies suggest that the key components of this network begin to emerge early in life. The studies also suggest that initial biases in emotion-related brain circuits and the early coupling of these circuits and cortical perceptual areas provide a foundation for a rapid acquisition of representations of those facial features that denote specific emotions.
Leppänen
Jukka M
JM
Department of Psychology, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
Nelson
Charles A
CA
D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005149:Facial Expression; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology*; D012938:Social Perception; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology