Serial processing of emotional type and intensity: Evidence from an ERP study

Abstract

ERP responses were examined while subjects were identifying type of facial emotion as well as assessing intensity of facial emotion. We found a significant correlation between the magnitude of P100 response and the correct identification of type of facial emotion over the right posterior region and that between the magnitude of N170 response and the assessment of intensity of facial emotion over the right posterior and left frontal regions. Finding of these significant correlations from the same right occipital region suggested that the human brain processes information about facial emotion serially; type of facial emotion is processed first and thereafter its saliency or intensity level. © 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.