Grotesque Impressions Enhance the Gaze Cueing Effect

A non-predictive gaze cue produces a reflexive shift of attention to the gazed-at location. The present study used a modified version of Posner's attentional cueing paradigm (a gaze cueing paradigm) to investigate role of grotesque facial expressions on a gaze cueing effect involving induced fear. Grotesque faces were created by vertically shifting the position of one of the two eyes (Experiment 1, N =28) or both eyes (Experiment 2, N =28). The grotesque faces of Experiment 1 produced a larger facilitative effect of a gaze cue than did original faces, whereas the less grotesque faces of Experiment 2 did not. Cooper & Wojan (2000) have shown that one-eye moved faces produce much more grotesque impressions than two-eye moved faces. Results suggest that a grotesque facial expression, which may induce fear, automatically attracts observers' attention and facilitates processing of the gaze, ultimately enhancing the gaze cueing effect.