Facial mimicry is independent of stimulus format: Evidence for facial mimicry of stick figures and photographs

The present research investigated facial mimicry of the basic emotions joy, anger, and sadness in response to stimuli different formats. Specifically, an electromyography study, 120 participants rated expressions joyful, angry, sad faces presented as photographs or stick figures while muscle activity was measured. Using both frequentist Bayesian approaches hypothesis testing, we found strong support for a effect: Participants showed higher zygomaticus major orbicularis oculi (smiling) towards joyful faces, they corrugator supercilii (frowning) angry faces. Although more abstract less interesting stimuli, effect equally independent format which were (photographs figures). Additionally, enhanced emotion recognition compared photographs, which, however, unrelated mimicry. findings suggest that occurs varying their abstractness might be robust social-cognitive influences than previously assumed.