Asymmetries in the perception of facial affect: Is there an influence of reading habits?
Abstract
Perceptions of happy facial effect from asymmetric composite faces presented in free vision were compared in four groups: left-to-right readers (Hindi), right-to-left readers (Arabic), left-to-right and right-to-left readers (Hindi/Urdu) and illiterates (Hindi/Urdu). Right - and left-handed users of Hindi and Urdu were studied. The analysis of asymmetry scores revealed a significant effect of Group, such that a left hemifield preference was present only in the left-to-right (Hindi) group. There were no reliable differences between right- and left-handers. Furthermore, the leftward bias was present in a significantly larger proportion of Hindi than Urdu or Arabic readers. These results are taken to reflect an interaction between a cerebral laterality effect and a directional scanning effect in facial affect judgment.
Description
Research study examining role of reading/writing direction in judgments of facial affect.Subject
facial affect judgmentreading direction biases
spatial biases in perception
chimeric faces
Urdu readers
Hindi readers
Arabic readers
Illiterate adults
scanning biases and brain lateralization
right hemisphere role
handedness
manual preference