title: Distinct temporal processing of task-irrelevant emotional facial expressions.
abstract: There is an ongoing debate concerning the extent to which emotional faces automatically attract attention. Using a single-target Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP) methodology, it has been found that presentation of task-irrelevant positive or negative emotionally salient stimuli (e.g., negative scenes or erotic pictures) results in a temporary inability to process target stimuli (emotion-induced blindness). In the present study, we sought to examine emotion-induced blindness effects for negative (angry) and positive (happy) facial expressions. Interestingly, task-irrelevant emotional facial expressions facilitated, rather than impaired, target detection when presented in close temporal proximity of the target. Similar facilitation effects were absent for neutral faces or rotated neutral faces that were both included as control stimuli. These results indicate a distinct temporal processing of emotional facial expressions, which accords well with the signal value of emotional expressions in interpersonal situations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, University of Groningen.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: de Jong
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Ghent.
authors.forename: Ernst H W
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Koster
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, University of Groningen.
authors.forename: Ineke
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wessel
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Groningen.
authors.forename: Sander
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martens
mesh_terms: D000786:Anger; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D006240:Happiness; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012919:Social Behavior; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013997:Time Factors