Authors:

Fox, E., Mathews, A., CALDER, A.J. & and Yiend, J.

Reference:

Year of publication:

2007

CBU number:

6434

Abstract:

This study investigated the role of neutral, happy, fearful and angry facial expressions in enhancing orienting to the direction of eye-gaze. Photographs of faces with either direct or averted gaze were presented. A target letter (T or L) appeared unpredictably to the left or the right of the face, either 300 ms or 700 ms after gaze direction changed. Response times were faster in congruent conditions (i.e., when the eyes gazed towards the target) relative to incongruent conditions (when the eyes gazed away from the target letter). Facial expression did influence reaction times but these effects were qualified by individual differences on self-reported anxiety. High trait-anxious participants showed an enhanced orienting to the eye-gaze of faces with fearful expressions relative to all other expressions. In contrast, when the eyes stared straight ahead, trait-anxiety was associated with slower responding when the facial expressions depicted anger. Thus, in anxiety-prone people attention is more likely to be held by an expression of anger, while attention is guided more potently by fearful facial expressions.