The processing of anticipated and unanticipated fearful faces: An ERP study

This study examined the processing of fearful and neutral expressions, which could either be anticipated or not from a prime word (i.e., ‘fear’ or ‘neutral’) with or without predictive value. In total, data from 17 participants (i.e., reaction times; ERP waveforms) were analyzed. ERP data showed that the expression effect (fearful vs. neutral faces) was different between predictable and unpredictable trials in early components (N1, N170 and P2) after face onset. However, the expression effect was essentially the same between predictable and unpredictable trials in late components (N300 and P3) after face onset. These results revealed that emotion processing of anticipated vs. non-anticipated stimuli differs mainly in the early stage of neural activity after face onset.

► P2, N300, and P3 differ between unanticipated neutral and fearful faces.
► N1, N170, N300, and P3 differ between anticipated neutral and fearful faces.
► Early stage differs between unanticipated and anticipated emotional faces.
► SPN-like component differs between unpredictable and predictable trials.