Virtual Reality Experiments on Emotional Face Recognition Find No Evidence of Mood-Congruent Effects

Frontiers in Psychology

article

Lan Zhong¹  Yamin Wang¹  Jinhong Ding¹ 

[1] Beijing Key Laboratory of Learning and Cognition, College of Psychology, Capital Normal University

关键词: mood congruity;    mood-congruent effect;    mood induction;    emotional memory;    gaze tracking;    virtual reality;    face recognition;    face learning;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00479

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Mood-congruent effects have been demonstrated many times, but few studies have managed to replicate the effect with natural moods. Additionally, the ecological validity of mood induction and real-time observation deficiency remain unresolved. Using a newly developed, virtual-reality-based eye-tracking technique, the present study conducted real-time observations of mood effects on emotional face recognition with simulated “real-life” pleasant and grisly scenes. In experiment 1, participants performed an emotional face recognition task in both positive and negative virtual reality scenes. The recognition tests and gaze tracking results failed to support mood-congruent effects but did show a mood effect independent of a strong emotional face effect. In experiment 2, participants performed a neutral face recognition task in pleasant and grisly scenes that were matched for arousal levels, and the mood effect disappeared. The results also revealed a robust negativity bias in emotional face recognition, which was found to accompany a mood repair effect.

【 授权许可】

CC BY