Preferential decoding of emotion from human non-linguistic vocalizations versus speech prosody

• Published in: Biological psychology 2015-10, Vol.111, p.14-25
• Main Authors: Pell, M.D., Rothermich, K., Liu, P., Paulmann, S., Sethi, S., Rigoulot, S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Anxiety; Auditory Perception - physiology; Brain - physiology; Electroencephalography; Emotional communication; Emotions - physiology; ERPs; Evoked Potentials - physiology; Female; Humans; Linguistics; Male; Speech prosody; Verbal Behavior - physiology; Vocal expression; Voice; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0301-0511; 1873-6246
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2015.08.008

•We compared the time course of neural responses evoked by emotional speech prosody and non-linguistic vocalizations (e.g., laughter) by measuring event-related brain potentials.•Vocalizations and speech were differentiated rapidly, with preferential decoding of vocalizations at early stages of sensory processing and attention allocation (N1–P2 component).•Vocal expressions conveying anger elicited a larger late positivity associated with cognitive (re) appraisal of these signals when compared to sad and happy expressions.•In vocal communication, non-linguistic vocalizations are given temporal precedence over speech-embedded emotions due to their distinct evolutionary and neurofunctional origins. This study used event-related brain potentials (ERPs) to compare the time course of emotion processing from non-linguistic vocalizations versus speech prosody, to test whether vocalizations are treated preferentially by the neurocognitive system. Participants passively listened to vocalizations or pseudo-utterances conveying anger, sadness, or happiness as the EEG was recorded. Simultaneous effects of vocal expression type and emotion were analyzed for three ERP components (N100, P200, late positive component). Emotional vocalizations and speech were differentiated very early (N100) and vocalizations elicited stronger, earlier, and more differentiated P200 responses than speech. At later stages (450–700ms), anger vocalizations evoked a stronger late positivity (LPC) than other vocal expressions, which was similar but delayed for angry speech. Individuals with high trait anxiety exhibited early, heightened sensitivity to vocal emotions (particularly vocalizations). These data provide new neurophysiological evidence that vocalizations, as evolutionarily primitive signals, are accorded precedence over speech-embedded emotions in the human voice.