Objective: Studying the impact of non-pathological cerebral ageing on psychic integration of facial emotion perception (PIFEP).
Design: Comparing in a metric way, using the M.A.R.I.E. software, PIFEB displayed by a population made of young subjects and a population of elderly subjects.
Materials and Methods: M.A.R.I.E. (see references) is a computer software tool which metrically records and mathematically models the PIFEB . Morphing, which allows to go from picture �A� to picture �B�, is the basic principle used by M.A.R.I.E. 3 different faces are displayed. A population made of 30 young subjects (YS) (15 men and 15 women) (age 23.5 +/-3) ; education level +3+/- 1.8. A population made of 30 elderly subjects (ES) (15 men and 15 women) (age 52.3+/-1.8) education level +1+/- 1.1. with a MATTIS score higher than 140 (143+/-1.7), (H.A.M.A.), and (M.I.N.I.) tests are administered to all subjects who are right-handed and in good health.
Emotional series (ES): anger/fear ; anger/sadness ; happiness/sadness; neutral/anger ; neutral/disgusted; neutral/happiness, neutral/fear; neutral/surprise and neutral/sadnesse were used for the test.
Results: The results for each ES were fitted to a sigmoid curve as expressed by the logistic equation, where �a�,�b�,�c� are obtained by an iteration process conducted until an adequate fitting is obtained. We compared these three coefficients for the YS and ES groups of subjects.
Conclusion: We observed that an idiosyncrasy effect appears in the PIFEB. The ES group identifies in a more categorical way: sadness, fear and surprise whereas perception of disgust is minimal. Thus, the PIFEB appears to be linked to the aging process.
References: Bruyer R, Granato P: Categorical effects in the perception of facial expressions M.A.R.I.E. a simple and discriminating clinical tool. European Review of Applied Psychology 1999; 49:3-10. Granato P, Bruyer R: Measurement of facially expressed emotions by a computerized study: method of study and analysis of integration of emotions: M.A.R.I.E. European Psychiatry 2002; 17; 6:1-10.
Back to PA Monday Poster Sessions
Back to The Eleventh International Congress