Previous studies have shown differential event-related potentials(ERPs)to intensities of fearful facial expressions.And there are indications that the eyes may be particularly relevant for recognition of fearful expressions,even the amount of white sclera exposed above and on sides of the dark pupil was able to activate the amygdala response.To investigate whether the ERP differences between intensities of fearful expressions are driven by the differential salience of the eyes in the fearful faces,ERPs were measured within a backward masking paradigm,where observers were told to do a gender decision task to male and female neutral faces.Masked stimuli used were low-intensity(50%),prototypical(100%),and caricatured(150%)fearful eye whites that were deprived from corresponding intensities of fearful face separately.Analysis of ERP data before 200ms showed a significant increase in amplitude of the P120 by three intensities of fearful eye whites.Results demonstrate that human brain is sensitive to intensities of fearful,even by showing intensities of fearful eye-white in the absence of awareness.
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