Distinct and similar patterns of emotional development in adolescents and young adults.

ABSTRACT: Adolescence is a developmental period of increased sensitivity to social emotional cues, but it is less known whether young adults demonstrate similar social emotional sensitivity. The current study tested variation in reaction times to emotional face cues during different phases of emotional development. Ex-Gaussian parameters mu, sigma, and tau were computed, in addition to mean, median and standard deviation (SD) in reaction times (RT) during an emotional go/nogo-paradigm with fearful, happy, and calm facial expressions in 377 participants, 6-30 years of age. Across development, mean RT showed slowing to fearful facial expressions relative to both calm and happy facial cues, but mu revealed that this pattern was specific to adolescence. In young adulthood, increased variability to fearf

SUBMITTER: Bos DJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7384025 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature