Sex differences in asymmetrically perceiving the intensity of facial expressions

Percept Mot Skills. 1999 Aug;89(1):311-4. doi: 10.2466/pms.1999.89.1.311.

Abstract

Emotional facial expressions are often asymmetrical, with the left half of the face typically displaying the stronger affective intensity cues. During facial perception, however, most right-handed individuals are biased toward facial affect cues projecting to their own left visual hemifield. Consequently, mirror-reversed faces are typically rated as more emotionally intense than when presented normally. Mirror-reversal permits the most intense side of the expresser's face to project to the visual hemifield biased for processing facial affect cues. This study replicated the mirror-reversal effect in 21 men and 49 women (aged 18-52 yr.) using a videotaped free viewing presentation but also showed the effect of facial orientation is moderated by the sex of the perceiver. The mirror-reversal effect was significant only for men but not for women, suggesting possible sex differences in cerebral organization of systems for facial perception.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Emotions*
  • Facial Expression*
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Sex Factors
  • Social Perception
  • Visual Perception*