Recently, researchers from the Institute of Psychology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of CAS provided insights into the genetic and neural basis of facial emotion recognition in humans and monkeys. The study was published in National Science Review.

Facial emotion recognition is a crucial social skill that enables individuals to quickly and accurately identify primary emotions. This ability is often impaired in social cognitive disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This ability is important for social interactions, but its origins remain unclear.

In this study, researchers employed a classic twin study design, utilizing both behavioral assessments and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in humans, alongside in vivo electrophysiological recordings from monkeys. They for the first time differentiated the effects of genetic and environmental factors on facial emotion recognition.

By analyzing identical and fraternal twins, who share 100% and 50% genetic similarity respectively, researchers found that low spatial frequency (LSF) processing is largely regulated by genetic factors, while high spatial frequency (HSF) processing is mostly influenced by environmental factors. This highlights the different roles of genetics and environment in facial emotion recognition.

LSF processing relates to the overall characteristics of facial emotions, whereas HSF focuses on fine details. The fMRI results indicated that emotional recognition relying on LSF is genetically related with the functioning of the amygdala, with no such connection found for HSF. Electrophysiological study in monkeys confirmed the existence of neurons differentially preferring LSF and HSF emotional faces. This suggests distinct neural mechanisms underlying LSF and HSF in emotion recognition.

"Our study indicates that the ability to recognize LSF is evolutionarily acquired and regulated by innate genetic modules, while HSF capabilities develop through learning during growth. This sheds light on the long-standing debate of nature versus nurture in emotional processing," said Prof. DAI Ji from SIAT, one corresponding author of this study. Moreover, the genetic characteristics underlying LSF recognition capacity offer insights into identifying internal phenotypes for social cognitive disorders like ASD.

This study not only deepens the understanding of human social behavior but also paves the way for the research and intervention in social cognitive disorders.