| |
Abstract:
Individuals suffering from affective disorders often
experience difficulties in social interactions which could be a
consequence of incorrect appraisal of facial expression cues. This
study investigated whether sensitivity to different facial
expressions altered according to mood across a normal population.
Computer graphics were used to morph between a neutral face and one
of 6 expressions (anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness,
surprise), creating a smooth continuum controlled interactively by
the subject. Subjects were required to identify the expression
displayed and determine the point along the continuum at which they
first perceived the emotion. Standard clinical questionnaires (the
Beck Depression Inventory and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory)
were used to assess mood. Individuals with high depression scores
showed a different pattern of relative sensitivity across
expressions compared to normal subjects (F5,355=2.59, p<0.05).
Level of depression correlated positively with relative sensitivity
to expressions of sadness (r= 0.024, p<0.05), but negatively
with relative sensitivity to disgust (r= -0.36, p<0.05). Anxiety
level did not affect relative sensitivity to different expressions
(F5,355= 1.022, p>0.05).
|
