JAPANESE JOURNAL OF RESEARCH ON EMOTIONS
Online ISSN : 1882-8949
Print ISSN : 1882-8817
ISSN-L : 1882-8817
Categorical perception is not a hallmark of fast initial processing of facial expressions of emotions
Atsunobu SuzukiSusumu ShibuiKazuo Shigemasu
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2007 Volume 14 Issue 1 Pages 3-14

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Abstract
Initial processing of facial expressions of emotions has been shown to occur very fast, even without awareness. In order to determine whether the fast initial processing of facial expressions is categorical, we investigated temporal characteristics of categorical perception (CP) of facial expressions. We examined the effects of shortening stimulus duration on participant performance with respect to identifying (Experiment 1) and discriminating (Experiment 2) morphed facial expressions. Results of the two experiments suggested that CP was attenuated or even disappeared when facial stimuli were presented for as briefly as 50-75 milliseconds. These findings suggest that CP may be irrelevant in the fast initial processing of facial expressions.
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© 2007 JAPAN SOCIETY FOR RESEARCH ON EMOTIONS
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