Working Memory Maintenance Modulates Serial Dependence Effects of Perceived Emotional Expression

Frontiers in Psychology

article

Gaoxing Mei¹  Shiyu Chen¹  Bo Dong² 

[1]School of Psychology, Guizhou Normal University

[2]Department of Psychology, School of Education and Public Administration, Suzhou University of Science and Technology

关键词: serial dependence;    emotional expression;    face perception;    working memory;    positive aftereffect;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01610

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

The stability of face perception is vital in interpersonal interactions. Recent studies have revealed the mechanism of the stability in the perception of stable attributes of faces (such as facial identity) by serial dependence, a phenomenon in which perception of current stimuli is pulled toward recently viewed stimuli. However, whether serial dependence of perceived emotional expression (a changeable attribute of faces) exists remains controversial, and its exact nature has not been examined yet. To address these issues, we used the methods of constant stimuli and two-interval forced choice tasks in three psychophysical experiments. Participants compared two successive facial expressions selected from a continuum with 50 morphed faces ranging from sad to happy. Experiment 1a and 1b showed that a perceived facial expression pulled toward previously seen facial expressions (i.e., a significant serial dependence effect), independent of response instructions. Furthermore, a stronger serial dependence effect was found when the first facial expression was retained in working memory for a longer delay duration (Experiment 2), and yet a weaker serial dependence effect was observed when a longer delay between decision and response was performed (Experiment 3). These findings indicate that serial dependence facilitates the stability of facial expression perception and is modulated by working memory representations.

【 授权许可】

CC BY