Marco Costa

Social presence, embarrassment, and nonverbal behavior

Nonverbal behaviors in response to viewing slides depicting nude males, nude females, erotic couples and neutral pictures, either alone or in the presence of two unfamiliar individuals, were studied in 22 female and 16 male university students. Participants were unaware of being videorecorded. Results revealed discrepancies between self-reported embarrassment and nonverbal behaviors supposedly expressive of embarrassment. Although self-reported embarrassment was higher when certain types of slides were viewed in the presence of others than when they were viewed alone, we observed significantly fewer lip movements, gaze shifts, face touches, downward gazes, and downward head movements in the presence of unfamiliar individuals than in the alone condition. We also compared behaviors during slide exposure and during the inter-slide intervals. For 9 out of 11 coded behaviors, frequencies were significantly higher during inter-slide intervals than during slide presentation. We argue that this is probably due to the fact that visual attention to the slides inhibited nonverbal behaviors. The results cast doubt on the possibility of inferring the internal state of an emotion such as embarrassment by analyzing nonverbal behaviors without taking account of the social setting in which such observations are made.

Contingent negative variation and cognitive performance in hypotension

The difference in attention and cognitive performance between 26 hypotensive (systolic blood pressure < 100 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure < 60 mmHg) and 22 normotensive female university students was assessed. Attention was examined with contingent negative variation (CNV) recorded using light and tone as S1 and S2. Cognitive performance was assessed by free recall of a list of words and two German tests of cognitive speed performance and sustained attention: Zahlen-Verbindungs-Test and d2. The hypotensive participants demonstrated a lower increase in negativity on the CNV. Moreover, in the free recall test, hypotensive individuals remembered fewer words, in comparison with normotensive subjects. Scores for hypotensive individuals on the Zahlen-Verbindungs-Test and d2 were also lower. No difference was found in reaction times to imperative stimuli (S2).

Head Canting in Paintings: An Historical Study

Head canting, a lateral shift of the head toward the shoulder axis, was examined in 1498 figures in the complete works of 11 painters from the XIV to the XX century: Martini, van Eyck Hubert and Jan, Holbein, Carracci, Velazquez, Rembrandt, Degas, Cèzanne, Klimt, and Modigliani. All figures (up to 9 in any one painting) that were not in complete profile and that were not depicted bowing or shifting their bodies were selected for analysis. Our analysis found a higher frequency (49%) of head canting in paintings than previously reported in naturalistic settings. Head canting was significantly higher in female figures than male figures. If a figures head was facing laterally, head canting was more likely to be to the contralateral side. Head canting was lower in older figures than in children, youths, and adults. The highest level of head canting was seen in religious and mythological figures. Head canting was lower in figures of artists and professionals and virtually absent in depictions of nobles. Figures in pose were depicted with less head canting than those in natural settings. Head canting was lower in figures gazing toward the observer. Single-figure portraits head canted less than subjects in multiple-figure paintings. Author analysis revealed that head canting was pronounced in painters of religious subjects and in modern painters, whereas its degree was reduced in official portrait painters. These results are discussed in terms of dominance theory.

Face-ism Effect and Head Canting in One's Own and Others' Photographs

The influence of face-ism (i.e., the attribution of positive characteristics to people in close-up shots) in photographs picturing oneself and others was assessed in 51 female and 28 male university students. Three different shots (portrait, half-figure, and whole figure) were taken of all subjects. After rating their own physical attractiveness, subjects were asked to assess attractiveness and rate each shot on an analog scale. The same procedure was used for the pictures of two individuals, chosen randomly from those previously tested (one male and one female) and with whom the subject was not familiar. Analyses with ANOVA revealed that unfamiliar male subjects received lower evaluations in attractiveness compared to self and unfamiliar female rating. As to pictures of nonfamiliar individuals, there was a clear preference for short-distance shots (portrait), whereas for pictures portraying oneself there was a tendency to prefer medium-distance shots (half-figure, whole figure). Multiple regression analy...

Visual, sensorimotor and cognitive routes to understanding others' enjoyment: An individual differences rTMS approach to empathic accuracy

ABSTRACT Functional imaging studies suggest that accurate understanding of others’ emotional feelings (i.e., empathic accuracy, EA) recruits high‐order visual, sensorimotor and mentalizing brain networks. However, the behavioral relevance of these findings is unclear. To fill in this gap, we used repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to interfere with the right superior temporal sulcus (STS), inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and temporoparietal junction (TPJ) during an EA task requiring participants to infer the enjoyment felt by a social target while smiling/laughing. Relative to a baseline condition (sham rTMS), active rTMS of STS, IFG and TPJ (but not of a control site) disrupted the efficiency of EA task performance, mainly by lowering task accuracy; rTMS of IFG and TPJ also slowed down response speeds. Importantly, the effects of rTMS on EA task efficiency were predicted by baseline EA performance, with high‐performers showing a performance decrease when the TPJ was targeted, and low‐performers showing a performance decrease when the STS or the IFG was targeted. The double dissociation in the effect of rTMS between low‐ and high‐performers suggests distinct roles of STS, IFG and TPJ in efficient understanding of the enjoyment felt by others. These findings provide causal evidence of distinct visual, sensorimotor and cognitive routes to EA and suggest that individual differences in EA are underpinned by differential recruitment of these routes. HIGHLIGHTSrTMS over STS, IFG and TPJ impaired empathic accuracy (EA).Individual differences in EA moderated the effects of rTMS.Low EA‐performers showed impaired EA following rTMS over STS and IFG.High EA‐performers showed impaired EA following rTMS over TPJ.Low and high EA‐performers differentially recruited the brain regions supporting EA.

Geometrical Factors in the Perception of Sacredness

Geometrical and environmental factors in the perception of sacredness, dominance, and attractiveness were assessed by 137 participants in five tests. In the first test, a two-alternative forced-choice paradigm was used to test the perception of sacredness, dominance, and attractiveness in geometrical figures differing in shape, verticality, size, and symmetry. Verticality, symmetry, and convexity were found to be important factors in the perception of sacredness. In the second test, participants had to mark the point inside geometrical surfaces that was perceived as most sacred, dominant, and attractive. The top and the center areas were associated with sacredness, dominance, and attractiveness. In the third test, peaks and elevated regions in landscapes were evaluated as more sacred, dominant, and attractive than valley regions. In the fourth test, three figures sharing the same area but differing in horizontal and vertical orientation were evaluated on eight scales. The vertical figure was evaluated as more sacred, dominant, and attractive than the horizontal figure. The fifth test demonstrated the significant role of space seclusion and inaccessibility in the perception of sacredness. Geometrical factors in the perception of sacredness, dominance, and attractiveness were largely overlapping.

Intelligence and Musical Mode Preference

The relationship between fluid intelligence and preference for major–minor musical mode was investigated in a sample of 80 university students. Intelligence was assessed by the Raven’s Advanced Progressive Matrices. Musical mode preference was assessed by presenting 14 pairs of musical stimuli that varied only in mode. Mood and personality were assessed, respectively, by the Brief Mood Introspection Scale and the Big Five Questionnaire. Preference for minor stimuli was related positively and significantly to fluid intelligence and openness to experience. The results add evidence of individual differences at the cognitive and personality level related to the enjoyment of sad music.

Musical mode and visual-spatial cross-modal associations in infants and adults:

The classification of major and minor musical stimuli along five dichotomous scales (happy–sad, pleasant–unpleasant, up–down, light–dark, and warm–cold colors) was investigated in two studies involving 51 children aged 4–6 years, and 168 adults. Musical stimuli were six chords and six harmonized melodies differing in mode (major, minor). Furthermore, fluid intelligence was assessed in both infants and adults. The associations between major mode and happiness and between minor mode and sadness increased from a proportion of 58% at the age of 4, to 61% at the age of 5, 72% at the age of 6, and 92% in adults. The major–up, minor–down associations were 62% in both the 5- and 6-year-olds, and increased to 84% in adults, while the major–light, minor–dark associations increased from 59% at the age of 5 to 72% in 6-year-olds and 92% in adults. Warm–cold colors were systematically associated with, respectively, major and minor stimuli in adults but not in children. Fluid intelligence was strongly related to the child’s ability to associate happy and sad faces to major and minor musical stimuli.

Reflective Tape Applied to Bicycle Frame and Conspicuity Enhancement at Night

Objective: Four studies were conducted to assess bicyclist conspicuity enhancement at night by the application of reflective tape (ECE/ONU 104) to the bicycle rear frame and to pedal cranks. Background: Previous studies have tested the benefits of reflective markings applied to bicyclist clothing. Reflective jackets however need to be available and worn while reflective markings enhance conspicuity without any active behavior by the bicyclist. Method: In the first study, reflective tape was applied to the rear frame. Detection distance was compared in four conditions: control, rear red reflector, high visibility jacket, and reflective tape. In the second study, the same conditions were studied with night street lighting on and off. In the third study, detection and recognition distances were evaluated in rainy conditions. In the fourth study, visibility was assessed with the reflective tape applied to pedal cranks. Results: In the first study, the application of reflective markings resulted in a detection distance of 168.28 m. In the second study, the detection distance with reflective markings was 229.74 m with public street light on and 256.41 m with public street light off. In rainy conditions, detection distance using the reflective markings was 146.47 m. Reflective tape applied to pedal cracks resulted in a detection distance of 168.60 m. Conclusion: Reflective tape applied to the rear bicycle frame can considerably increase bicyclist conspicuity and safety at night. Application: Reflective tape is highly recommended to complement anterior and rear lights in bicycle riding at night.

Pitch-verticality and pitch-size cross-modal interactions:

Two studies were conducted on cross-modal matching between pitch and sound source localization on the vertical axis, and pitch and size. In the first study 100 Hz, 200 Hz, 600 Hz, and 800 Hz tones were emitted by a loudspeaker positioned 60 cm above or below to the participant’s ear level. Using a speeded classification task, 30 participants had to indicate the sound source in 160 trials. Both reaction times and errors were analyzed. The results showed that in the congruent condition of high-pitched tones emitted from the upper loudspeaker, reaction times were significantly faster and the number of errors was significantly lower. Pitch was mapped on the vertical axis for sound localization. A main effect for sound source direction was also found. Tones coming from the upper loudspeaker were recognized faster and more accurately. Males were faster than females in identifying sound source direction. In the second experiment, 20 participants had to match 21 tones varying in pitch with 9 circles differing in visual angle on 42 trials. The results showed a clear inverse linear association between log-spaced tone pitch and circle diameter.