The neuroscience of understanding the emotions of others

Spunt, Robert P.; Adolphs, Ralph

doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2017.06.018

Cited by 60 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…These findings call for a revisit to emotion models. For instance, the present paper has demonstrated that color can successfully communicate 18 distinct emotion categories to an observer as well as positive and negative valence, but more categories or degrees of valences are likely ( 7 , 26 ). For example, it is possible that new combinations of AUs and colors, not tested in the present study, can yield previously unidentified facial expressions of emotion.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 65%

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Facial color is an efficient mechanism to visually transmit emotion

Benitez-Quiroz

Srinivasan

Martı́nez

2018

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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SignificanceEmotions correspond to the execution of a number of computations by the central nervous system. Previous research has studied the hypothesis that some of these computations yield visually identifiable facial muscle movements. Here, we study the supplemental hypothesis that some of these computations yield facial blood flow changes unique to the category and valence of each emotion. These blood flow changes are visible as specific facial color patterns to observers, who can then successfully decode the emotion. We present converging computational and behavioral evidence in favor of this hypothesis. Our studies demonstrate that people identify the correct emotion category and valence from these facial colors, even in the absence of any facial muscle movement.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 65%

“…For example, it is possible that new combinations of AUs and colors, not tested in the present study, can yield previously unidentified facial expressions of emotion. This is a fundamental question in emotion research likely to influence the definition of emotion and the role of emotions in high-level cognitive tasks ( 26 , 27 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Facial color is an efficient mechanism to visually transmit emotion

Benitez-Quiroz

Srinivasan

Martı́nez

2018

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…7). This post hoc analysis was decided in the light of the existing strong evidence about the role of the amygdala in the detection of ambiguous, emotion-relevant cues (65,66) and the insular cortex in the integration of internal cues, like affective state (67) and empathic processing (68,69), to the cognitive evaluation of emotional input, as well as the involvement of the orbitofrontal cortex and striatum in the neural systems mediating emotional processing (70,71).…”

Section: Different Gc Rhythms Change the Functional Connectivity Of Gmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ultradian rhythmicity of plasma cortisol is necessary for normal emotional and cognitive responses in man

Kalafatakis

Russell

Harmer

et al. 2018

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

101

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Glucocorticoids (GCs) are secreted in an ultradian, pulsatile pattern that emerges from delays in the feedforward-feedback interaction between the anterior pituitary and adrenal glands. Dynamic oscillations of GCs are critical for normal cognitive and metabolic function in the rat and have been shown to modulate the pattern of GC-sensitive gene expression, modify synaptic activity, and maintain stress responsiveness. In man, current cortisol replacement therapy does not reproduce physiological hormone pulses and is associated with psychopathological symptoms, especially apathy and attenuated motivation in engaging with daily activities. In this work, we tested the hypothesis that the pattern of GC dynamics in the brain is of crucial importance for regulating cognitive and behavioral processes. We provide evidence that exactly the same dose of cortisol administered in different patterns alters the neural processing underlying the response to emotional stimulation, the accuracy in recognition and attentional bias toward/away from emotional faces, the quality of sleep, and the working memory performance of healthy male volunteers. These data indicate that the pattern of the GC rhythm differentially impacts human cognition and behavior under physiological, nonstressful conditions and has major implications for the improvement of cortisol replacement therapy.

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“…Grounded in extensive research in social and cognitive psychology, we conceptualised appearance‐based bias as the result of both the beholder's automatic evaluation of the hedonic valence of another's facial features, and the related activation of most basic approach/avoidance motivation systems . Such automatic inferential processing may influence the subsequent classification of emotions into discrete emotional facial expressions …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emotion recognition in medical students: effects of facial appearance and care schema activation

2018

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Context Identifying the factors that may interfere with or sharpen the ability to recognise emotions when observing patients is a critical goal in medical education. This study addressed these issues by investigating the effects of facial appearance bias on medical students’ emotion recognition (Experiment 1) and whether such bias is modulated by the activation of relational caregiving schema (Experiment 2). Methods In Experiment 1, medical students were asked to recognise the emotions expressed by individuals differing in facial appearance (trustworthy, neutral and untrustworthy). In Experiment 2, they completed the same type of emotion recognition task after activating and anchoring themselves to the representation of the relational/human competences typical of a competent professional caregiver or after a control non‐representation condition. Results In both experiments, emotion recognition was affected by facial appearance bias: medical students were less accurate and slower in their recognition of emotions displayed by untrustworthy‐looking individuals than in their recognition of emotions exhibited by individuals evoking more positive inferences. In Experiment 2, the activation of care schema enhanced medical students’ emotion recognition ability regardless of facial appearance‐based inferences. Conclusions Medical students’ emotion recognition is affected by appearance‐based bias, but such bias may be weakened by techniques that harness medical students’ personal affective/relational and representational resources. Thus, the results provide a basis for designing curricula aimed at challenging implicit negative bias and promoting medical students’ emotion recognition ability starting in the early stages of their education.

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The neuroscience of understanding the emotions of others

Cited by 60 publications

References 47 publications

Facial color is an efficient mechanism to visually transmit emotion

Facial color is an efficient mechanism to visually transmit emotion

Ultradian rhythmicity of plasma cortisol is necessary for normal emotional and cognitive responses in man

Emotion recognition in medical students: effects of facial appearance and care schema activation

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