The effects of angry and happy expressions on recognition memory for unfamiliar faces in delusion-prone individuals

J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry. 2006 Dec;37(4):271-82. doi: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2005.11.001. Epub 2006 Jan 9.

Abstract

Numerous studies suggest a cognitive bias for threat-related material in delusional ideation. However, few studies have examined this bias using a memory task. We investigated the influence of delusion-proneness on identity and expression memory for angry and happy faces. Participants high and low in delusion-proneness were presented with happy and angry faces and were later asked to recognise the same faces displaying a neutral expression. They also had to remember what the initial expressions of the faces had been. Remember/know/guess judgments were asked for both identity and expression memory. Results showed that delusion-prone participants better recognised the identity of angry faces compared to non-delusional participants. Also, this difference between the two groups was mainly due to a greater number of remember responses in delusion-prone participants. These findings extend previous studies by showing that delusions are associated with a memory bias for threat-related stimuli.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anger*
  • Attention
  • Culture
  • Delusions / psychology*
  • Facial Expression*
  • Female
  • Happiness*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Recall*
  • Pattern Recognition, Visual*
  • Reaction Time
  • Social Perception