Abstract
The aim of the present study was to determine how authenticity of emotion expression in speech modulates activity in the neuronal
substrates involved in emotion recognition. Within an fMRI paradigm, participants judged either the authenticity (authentic
or play acted) or emotional content (anger, fear, joy, or sadness) of recordings of spontaneous emotions and reenactments
by professional actors. When contrasting between task types, active judgment of authenticity, more than active judgment of
emotion, indicated potential involvement of the theory of mind (ToM) network (medial prefrontal cortex, temporoparietal cortex,
retrosplenium) as well as areas involved in working memory and decision making (BA 47). Subsequently, trials with authentic
recordings were contrasted with those of reenactments to determine the modulatory effects of authenticity. Authentic recordings
were found to enhance activity in part of the ToM network (medial prefrontal cortex). This effect of authenticity suggests
that individuals integrate recollections of their own experiences more for judgments involving authentic stimuli than for
those involving play-acted stimuli. The behavioral and functional results show that authenticity of emotional prosody is an
important property influencing human responses to such stimuli, with implications for studies using play-acted emotions.
substrates involved in emotion recognition. Within an fMRI paradigm, participants judged either the authenticity (authentic
or play acted) or emotional content (anger, fear, joy, or sadness) of recordings of spontaneous emotions and reenactments
by professional actors. When contrasting between task types, active judgment of authenticity, more than active judgment of
emotion, indicated potential involvement of the theory of mind (ToM) network (medial prefrontal cortex, temporoparietal cortex,
retrosplenium) as well as areas involved in working memory and decision making (BA 47). Subsequently, trials with authentic
recordings were contrasted with those of reenactments to determine the modulatory effects of authenticity. Authentic recordings
were found to enhance activity in part of the ToM network (medial prefrontal cortex). This effect of authenticity suggests
that individuals integrate recollections of their own experiences more for judgments involving authentic stimuli than for
those involving play-acted stimuli. The behavioral and functional results show that authenticity of emotional prosody is an
important property influencing human responses to such stimuli, with implications for studies using play-acted emotions.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.3758/s13415-011-0069-3
- Authors
- Matthis Drolet, German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany
- Ricarda I. Schubotz, Max Planck Institute for Neurological Research, Köln, Germany
- Julia Fischer, German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany
- Journal Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience
- Online ISSN 1531-135X
- Print ISSN 1530-7026