Date: March 14, 2018
Location: Dunton Tower: Room 2203
Title: Examining Sensitivity to Facial Expressions in People with a History of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Using Facial EMG, Ideal Observer Analysis, and Morphing Stimuli.
Presenter: Charles A. Collin
Authors: Laura Ziebell, Misha Sokolov, Madyson Weippert, Monica Mazalu, Charles A. Collin
Abstract:
Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) is a syndrome wherein individuals intentionally cut, bruise or burn themselves without the intent to die. It is a highly prevalent condition that is poorly understood. In our lab, we have been testing the idea that individuals who engage in NSSI are more sensitive to others’ emotions, and that this forms part of the impetus for their behaviours. We have examined this by comparing people with a history of NSSI to controls on a number of tasks. First, we used slowly morphing images of facial expressions (e.g., changing gradually from neutral to angry) to examine whether those who have engaged in NSSI could recognize more subtle emotional expressions than those who have not. Our data show that they can. Next, we measured luminance noise thresholds and used ideal observer analysis to see if people with a history of NSSI have greater sensitivity to the information in images of facial expressions. Analysis is ongoing, but our preliminary results suggest that there are no intergroup differences. Taken together, these data suggest that the difference between controls and those with a history of NSSI lies in higher-order visual analysis, rather than low-level perception. Most recently, using facial electromyography, we examined whether those with a history of NSSI show a different degree of reflexive facial mimicry than controls. Analysis of these data is ongoing. Our research is part of a larger multidisciplinary attempt to gain a better understanding of this widespread problem, with the ultimate goal of informing prevention and therapy.