Emojis in Sentence Processing: An Electrophysiological Approach
This paper discusses two multi-experiment studies using the ERP methodology to investigate neural correlates of processing linguistic emojis. The first study examined the use of wink emojis used to mark irony and found the same ERP response complex that has been found in response to word-generated irony. Contingent upon individual differences in interpretation, these emojis are processed the same way as ironic words. The second study investigated the prediction of non-face emojis substituted for nouns. When predictability was high, unexpected emojis elicited the same ERP response patterns as words. Overall, the results of these two studies suggest that emojis used linguistically are processed in the same way as words and that individuals can integrate input from multiple modalities into a holistic representation of a single utterance.
Effect of emoji prime on the understanding of emotional words – evidence from ERPs
ABSTRACT Emojis play an increasingly important role as nonverbal symbols in online communication, and this study investigates their effect on the processing of subsequent words. We suppose that emojis, as an aid to emotional expression and semantic comprehension, prime the cognitive processing of the textual stimuli that follow. An affective priming experiment using ERPs was conducted, in which Semantic Relationship between the emoji and the word (Congruent, Incongruent, Non-related) was manipulated to assess their impact in an affective word categorization task. Behavioral results revealed no significant difference, while electrophysiological data showed otherwise. N1 component elicited by semantically congruent and incongruent emoji-word pairs showed greater amplitudes than those by non-related pairs. N400 elicited by incongruent pairs showed greater amplitudes than the N400 by congruent pairs. These data indicate that while emojis do not influence the outcomes of linguistic processing, emoji primes enhance attentional level, and semantically congruent contents demand fewer cognitive resources and facilitate better processing in comparison to incongruent ones. The findings point to emojis’ role not only as affective primes, but also as paralanguage that is semantically processed. Implications for computer-mediated communication are discussed.
Nurse responsiveness to cancer patient expressions of emotion.
OBJECTIVE
This theoretically based study examined nurse responses to cancer patient expressions of emotion using a videotaped, simulated cancer patient.


METHODS
This study used an experimental crossover design with a videotaped patient expressing anger, sadness, and neutral emotion to elicit nurse responses. Seventy-four nurses from eight sites participated. Responses were coded using Roter interaction analysis system. Correlations explored relationships between variables that impact communication (age, gender, work experience, trait anxiety, work stress, self-efficacy). Regression models explored the effect of variables on nurse affective responsiveness.


RESULTS
Patient expressions of sadness elicited more affective responses than anger. Expressions of anger or neutral emotion elicited more instrumental behaviors than sadness. Variables such as age, work stress and work experience were significantly correlated. No variables predicted affective responsiveness to patient expressions of anger or sadness.


CONCLUSION
Nurse communication showed significant variation in response to patient emotional expressions. Understanding the relationships between demographic, personality, and work variables, and identification of new variables that influence nurse-patient communication, has implications for interventional studies.


PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS
Over 90% of the participants indicated that the videotape simulation would be a useful method for teaching and practicing communication skills with patients expressing emotions.