Figure 4 | Scientific Reports

Figure 4

From: Cortisol responses enhance negative valence perception for ambiguous facial expressions

Figure 4

(a) Mouse trajectories indicate that participants were more drawn to “negative” when rating surprise as positive than they were drawn to “positive” when rating surprise as negative, confirming prior research suggesting that people have an overall bias towards negativity. Error bars indicate SE. (b) Trajectories for surprise rated as positive and surprise rated as negative, averaged across all participants and time points. (c) Cortisol change from baseline to post-stressor showed a significant negative relationship with MD of surprise rated as negative following stressor/control. This correlation was significant only in the stress group. The mouse trajectory of those who had greater cortisol increases was more directly negative. The facial expression depicted here is part of the NimStim standardized facial expression stimulus set23 and is used with permission. Development of this stimulus set was overseen by Nim Tottenham and supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Early Experience and Brain Development. Please contact Nim Tottenham at tott0006@tc.umn.edu for more information concerning the stimulus set.

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