Emotion perception

Impaired perception of facial expressions of emotion may underlie the interpersonal difficulties observed in depressed patients and has been proposed as a cadidate marker for depression.

This study involves a number of different studies.

Firstly, the impact of depression on facial expression perception will be examined using neuroimaging and will provide a means to understand the neurobiological mechanism underlying this impairment. We have already published preliminary findings in subclinical depression:

Williams, L.M., Kemp, A.H., Felmingham, K., Liddell, B., Palmer, D., Bryant, R.A. (2007). Negativity biases to covert and overt signals of fear: Dissociation by trait anxiety and depression. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 19, 1595-1608. PMID: 17854280. 

Secondly, the impact of emotion vulnerability factors on emotion face perception will be examined. This study will examine two key factors including alpha asymmetry and serotonin transporter gene, both of which are thought to reflect a 'diathesis' that may predispose an individual towards a particular affective style.    

This project relates to:

• The University of Sydney Research and Development Grant (2007), awarded to Dr Kemp 
  
• ARC Discovery Project (DP0987332, 2009-2011), awarded to Dr's Kemp and Felmingham
  
• NHMRC Industry Career Development Award (Application: 571101, 2009-2012), a research fellowship awarded to Dr Kemp
  

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