title: Emotional facial activation induced by unconsciously perceived dynamic facial expressions.
abstract: Do facial expressions of emotion influence us when not consciously perceived? Methods to investigate this question have typically relied on brief presentation of static images. In contrast, real facial expressions are dynamic and unfold over several seconds. Recent studies demonstrate that gaze contingent crowding (GCC) can block awareness of dynamic expressions while still inducing behavioural priming effects. The current experiment tested for the first time whether dynamic facial expressions presented using this method can induce unconscious facial activation. Videos of dynamic happy and angry expressions were presented outside participants' conscious awareness while EMG measurements captured activation of the zygomaticus major (active when smiling) and the corrugator supercilii (active when frowning). Forced-choice classification of expressions confirmed they were not consciously perceived, while EMG revealed significant differential activation of facial muscles consistent with the expressions presented. This successful demonstration opens new avenues for research examining the unconscious emotional influences of facial expressions.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QH, UK. Electronic address: J.Kaiser@sussex.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jakob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QH, UK.
authors.forename: Graham C L
authors.initials: GCL
authors.lastname: Davey
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QH, UK.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Parkhouse
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QH, UK.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meeres
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QH, UK.
authors.forename: Ryan B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Scott
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003243:Consciousness / Q000502:physiology*; D004576:Electromyography; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005149:Facial Expression; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D000066499:Facial Recognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012938:Social Perception; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Electromyography; Emotion; Facial expressions; Nonconscious processing