Others’ Facial Expressions Influence Individuals Making Choices and Processing Feedback: The Event-Related Potential and Behavioral Evidence

Abstract

To date, several studies have found the effect of facial expressions on trust decision, using the event-related potentials (ERPs). However, little is known about the neural mechanism underlying the modulation effect of facial expressions on making choices and subsequent outcome evaluation. In the present study, using an ERP technique, we investigated how the neural process of making choices and subsequent outcome evaluation were influenced by others’ facial expressions for the first time. Specifically, participants played a modified version of the Trust Game, in which they watched a photo of the trustee before making choices. Critically, trustees’ faces differed regarding emotional types (i.e., happy, neutral, or angry) and gender (i.e., female or male). Behaviorally, an interaction between expressions and gender was observed on investment rates. On the neural level, the N2 and P3 amplitudes were modulated by facial expressions in the making-choice stage. Additionally, the feedback-related P3 was also modulated by facial expressions. The present study proved the effect of facial expressions on making choices and subsequent outcome evaluation.