This study investigates whether humans recognize different emotions conveyed only by the kinematics of a single moving geometrical shape and how this competence unfolds during development, from childhood to adulthood. To this aim, animations in which a shape moved according to happy, fearful, or neutral cartoons were shown, in a forced-choice paradigm, to 7- and 10-year-old children and adults. Accuracy and response times were recorded, and the movement of the mouse while the participants selected a response was tracked. Results showed that 10-year-old children and adults recognize happiness and fear when conveyed solely by different kinematics, with an advantage for fearful stimuli. Fearful stimuli were also accurately identified at 7-year-olds, together with neutral stimuli, while, at this age, the accuracy for happiness was not significantly different than chance. Overall, results demonstrates that emotions can be identified by a single point motion alone during both childhood and adulthood. Moreover, motion contributes in various measures to the comprehension of emotions, with fear recognized earlier in development and more readily even later on, when all emotions are accurately labeled.

Roberti, E., Turati, C., Actis-Grosso, R. (2024). Single point motion kinematics convey emotional signals in children and adults. PLOS ONE, 19(4) [10.1371/journal.pone.0301896].

Single point motion kinematics convey emotional signals in children and adults

Roberti, Elisa
;
Turati, Chiara;Actis-Grosso, Rossana
2024

Abstract

This study investigates whether humans recognize different emotions conveyed only by the kinematics of a single moving geometrical shape and how this competence unfolds during development, from childhood to adulthood. To this aim, animations in which a shape moved according to happy, fearful, or neutral cartoons were shown, in a forced-choice paradigm, to 7- and 10-year-old children and adults. Accuracy and response times were recorded, and the movement of the mouse while the participants selected a response was tracked. Results showed that 10-year-old children and adults recognize happiness and fear when conveyed solely by different kinematics, with an advantage for fearful stimuli. Fearful stimuli were also accurately identified at 7-year-olds, together with neutral stimuli, while, at this age, the accuracy for happiness was not significantly different than chance. Overall, results demonstrates that emotions can be identified by a single point motion alone during both childhood and adulthood. Moreover, motion contributes in various measures to the comprehension of emotions, with fear recognized earlier in development and more readily even later on, when all emotions are accurately labeled.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
Emotion; animacy; fear; child; dynamic
English
10-apr-2024
2024
19
4
e0301896
none
Roberti, E., Turati, C., Actis-Grosso, R. (2024). Single point motion kinematics convey emotional signals in children and adults. PLOS ONE, 19(4) [10.1371/journal.pone.0301896].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/473231
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