Dataset Information

Individual differences in valence modulation of face-selective M170 response.

ABSTRACT: Magnetoencephalography was used to examine the effect of individual differences on the temporal dynamics of emotional face processing by grouping subjects based on their ability to detect masked valence-laden stimuli. Receiver operating characteristic curves and a nonparametric sensitivity measure were used to categorize subjects into those that could and could not reliably detect briefly presented fearful faces that were backward-masked by neutral faces. Results showed that, in a cluster of face-responsive sensors, the strength of the M170 response was modulated by valence only when subjects could reliably detect the masked fearful faces. Source localization of the M170 peak using synthetic aperture magnetometry identified sources in face processing areas such as right middle occipital gyrus and left fusiform gyrus that showed the valence effect for those target durations at which subjects were sensitive to the fearful stimulus. Subjects who were better able to detect fearful faces also showed higher trait anxiety levels. These results suggest that individual differences between subjects, such as trait anxiety levels and sensitivity to fearful stimuli, may be an important factor to consider when studying emotion processing.

SUBMITTER: Japee S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2767163 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Individual differences in valence modulation of face-selective M170 response.

Japee Shruti S Crocker Laura L Carver Frederick F Pessoa Luiz L Ungerleider Leslie G LG

Emotion (Washington, D.C.) 20090201 1

Magnetoencephalography was used to examine the effect of individual differences on the temporal dynamics of emotional face processing by grouping subjects based on their ability to detect masked valence-laden stimuli. Receiver operating characteristic curves and a nonparametric sensitivity measure were used to categorize subjects into those that could and could not reliably detect briefly presented fearful faces that were backward-masked by neutral faces. Results showed that, in a cluster of fac ...[more]

PMID: 19186917

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Project description:BackgroundSeveral event related potential (ERP) studies have investigated the time course of different aspects of evaluative processing in social bias research. Various reports suggest that the late positive potential (LPP) is modulated by basic evaluative processes, and some reports suggest that in-/outgroup relative position affects ERP responses. In order to study possible LPP blending between facial race processing and semantic valence (positive or negative words), we recorded ERPs while indigenous and non-indigenous participants who were matched by age and gender performed an implicit association test (IAT). The task involved categorizing faces (ingroup and outgroup) and words (positive and negative). Since our paradigm implies an evaluative task with positive and negative valence association, a frontal distribution of LPPs similar to that found in previous reports was expected. At the same time, we predicted that LPP valence lateralization would be modulated not only by positive/negative associations but also by particular combinations of valence, face stimuli and participant relative position.ResultsResults showed that, during an IAT, indigenous participants with greater behavioral ingroup bias displayed a frontal LPP that was modulated in terms of complex contextual associations involving ethnic group and valence. The LPP was lateralized to the right for negative valence stimuli and to the left for positive valence stimuli. This valence lateralization was influenced by the combination of valence and membership type relevant to compatibility with prejudice toward a minority. Behavioral data from the IAT and an explicit attitudes questionnaire were used to clarify this finding and showed that ingroup bias plays an important role. Both ingroup favoritism and indigenous/non-indigenous differences were consistently present in the data.ConclusionOur results suggest that frontal LPP is elicited by contextual blending of evaluative judgments of in-/outgroup information and positive vs. negative valence association and confirm recent research relating in-/outgroup ERP modulation and frontal LPP. LPP modulation may cohere with implicit measures of attitudes. The convergence of measures that were observed supports the idea that racial and valence evaluations are strongly influenced by context. This result adds to a growing set of evidence concerning contextual sensitivity of different measures of prejudice.

Dataset Information

Individual differences in valence modulation of face-selective M170 response.

Publications

Individual differences in valence modulation of face-selective M170 response.

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