Working Memory Maintenance Modulates Serial Dependence Effects of Perceived Emotional Expression.

Gaoxing Mei,Shiyu Chen,Bo Dong

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01610

Gaoxing Mei, Shiyu Chen + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01610

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Abstract

The stability of face perception is vital in interpersonal interactions. Recent studies have revealed the mechanism of the stability in the perception of stable attributes of faces (such as facial identity) by serial dependence, a phenomenon in which perception of current stimuli is pulled toward recently viewed stimuli. However, whether serial dependence of perceived emotional expression (a changeable attribute of faces) exists remains controversial, and its exact nature has not been examined yet. To address these issues, we used the methods of constant stimuli and two-interval forced choice tasks in three psychophysical experiments. Participants compared two successive facial expressions selected from a continuum with 50 morphed faces ranging from sad to happy. Experiment 1a and 1b showed that a perceived facial expression pulled toward previously seen facial expressions (i.e., a significant serial dependence effect), independent of response instructions. Furthermore, a stronger serial dependence effect was found when the first facial expression was retained in working memory for a longer delay duration (Experiment 2), and yet a weaker serial dependence effect was observed when a longer delay between decision and response was performed (Experiment 3). These findings indicate that serial dependence facilitates the stability of facial expression perception and is modulated by working memory representations.

Highlights

Past visual experiences shape our current perception toward the visual world
We revealed the serial dependence effect of perceived emotional expression and its dependence on working memory
Experiment 1a and 1b demonstrated that perceived emotional expression was pulled by the one-back expression occurring on the ∼6 s before, and this positive serial dependence effect was independent of response instructions

Summary

Introduction

Past visual experiences shape our current perception toward the visual world. On the one hand, it is well established that the visual system maintains high sensitivity to changes in the environment through visual adaptation, a phenomenon in which prolonged exposure to visual stimuli leads to negative aftereffects (for reviews, see Kohn, 2007; Webster, 2011, 2015). Recent studies have demonstrated that the visual system maintains a stable and continuous perception in the noisy visual environment over time through serial dependence, a phenomenon in which the perception of current stimuli is pulled toward recently viewed stimuli (i.e., positive aftereffects) (Fischer and Whitney, 2014; Liberman et al, 2014; Kiyonaga et al, 2017). Perceived orientations of Serial Dependence in Emotional Perception gratings were systematically biased toward recently viewed orientations in an orientation judgment task (Fischer and Whitney, 2014). Serial dependence has been considered a reflection of the Continuity Field: a spatiotemporal region where similar visual stimuli are integrated (Fischer and Whitney, 2014; Liberman et al, 2018)

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