Facial expressions elicit multiplexed perceptions of emotion categories and dimensions
Meng Liu, Yaocong Duan, Robin A. A. Ince, Chaona Chen, Oliver Garrod, Philippe G. Schyns, Rachael E. Jack
Abstract
) and dimensions (i.e., valence and arousal) separately, in 60 individual participants. Comparison of these facial signals showed that they share subsets of components, suggesting that specific latent signals jointly represent-i.e., multiplex-categorical and dimensional information. Further examination revealed these specific latent signals and the joint information they represent. Our results-based on white Western participants, same-ethnicity face stimuli, and commonly used English emotion terms-show that facial expressions can jointly represent specific emotion categories and broad dimensions to perceivers via multiplexed facial signal components. Our results provide insights into the ontology and system of facial expression communication and a new information-theoretic framework that can characterize its complexities.