Identification of emotional expressiveness in facial photographs over 36h of extended vigilance in healthy young mena preliminary study

Author(s)

Ginani, Giuliano Emerenciano ; Pradella-Hallinan, Marcia ; Pompeia, Sabine

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: COGNITION & EMOTION; v. 31, n. 2, p. 339-348, 2017.
• Web of Science Citations: 3

Abstract

Changes in sleep patterns negatively influence some emotional responses, but their effects on facial expressiveness identification are unclear. To investigate these effects, 21 young, healthy, male volunteers of intermediate chronotype evaluated emotional expressiveness of faces depicting 6 basic emotions in 5 emotional gradients every 4h over 36h of continuous wakefulness. To measure attention and mood we used the Psychomotor Vigilance test and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule Expanded, respectively. We found effects of emotional gradient for all types of emotions (100%>80%>60%>40%>20%) during all tested periods, with no indications of circadian effects. The only emotional rating to be affected was disgust, which was progressively blunted throughout the experiment. This effect did not parallel homeostatic and circadian changes in mood, alertness or attention. We conclude that identifying disgust on facial photographs is particularly sensitive to lack of sleep irrespective of sleep-induced changes in mood and attention in males. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/01286-0 - Evaluation of circadian variation and effects of sleep deprivation on performance on tasks of working memory
• Grantee: Sabine Pompéia
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants