N170 response to facial expressions is modulated by the affective congruency between the emotional expression and preceding affective picture

► We measured event-related brain potentials to happy and sad facial expressions. ► The facial expressions were primed by affectively positive and negative scenes. ► The face-sensitive N170 response amplitudes showed an affective priming effect. ► N170 amplitudes were larger after affectively congruent than incongruent primes. ► Processing of contextual and facial affective information is early integrated.