Asymmetry in the Brain and in the Intensity of Emotional Expression in the Face

Asymmetry in the Brain and in the Intensity of Emotional Expression in the Face

Abstract
Composites created using only the left side of a face and only the right side of the face were judged by participants as one being more intense in emotional expression than the other. Roughly half the participants looked at composites expressing negative emotion, and the other half looked at composites expressing positive emotion. The left side composites were rated above chance as being more intense in emotion than the right side composites. The group observing negative emotion expression chose composites of the left side of the face at a rate significantly greater than the group observing positive emotion expression. The findings are consistent with previous research suggesting the right hemisphere of the brain is more involved in emotional processes than the left hemisphere. The results also suggest that emotional expression is assymmetrical in the face being mo...