The Influence of Speaker Pitch on Inferring Semantic Valence

Things are looking up: Vertical eye gaze in the environment affects perceptions of emotional valence in sad faces

“…Pitt & Casasanto, 2020). Evidence for this comes from experiments showing people automatically activate metaphorically congruent spatial representations while processing valenced stimuli (and vice versa; e.g., Barber & Reimer, 2021; Brookshire et al, 2010; Casasanto & Dijkstra, 2010; Crawford et al, 2006; Lynott & Coventry, 2014; Meier & Robinson, 2004). In one study, for example, participants were faster and more likely to retrieve positive memories while making concurrent motor movements upwards, and faster and more likely to retrieve negative memories while making concurrent motor movements downwards (Casasanto & Dijkstra, 2010).…”