Search for the Developmental Turning Point in Perceptual-Attentional Processing in the Confusion between Fear and Surprise

Abstract

This project examined viewing times and saccades while participants recognize fear and surprise presented in pairs within groups. Roy-Charland, Perron, Young, Boulard, and Chamberland (2015) found that children ages 9–11 were as accurate as adults in recognizing the emotions, and both groups were higher than children ages 3–5. Interestingly, the two groups of children made fewer saccades between the pair of faces and viewed the expressions longer than the adult group. Thus, while accuracy is equal to adults by ages 9–11, visual processing differs. This project added a group of adolescents (14–17) in search of a turning point in visual strategies used in the perceptual-attentional processing of fear and surprise. Results suggest a speed/accuracy tradeoff. In effect, adolescents were as fast as adults, but their accuracy was lower. Furthermore, adolescents made fewer saccades than adults, similar to groups aged 3–5 and 9–11 years old. These results add another piece in the understanding of the developmental trajectory of recognition of facial expressions.

Keywords:

• Confusion fear/surprise
• development
• eye movements
• facial expressions

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. This project was funded by a NSERC Discovery grant to Annie Roy-Charland.

Notes on contributors

Adèle Gallant

Adèle Gallant, Ph.D. student, École de psychologie, Université de Moncton.

Annie Roy-Charland

Annie Roy-Charland, Associate professor, École de psychologie, Université de Moncton.