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Brain activity associated with graphic emoticons. The effect of abstract faces in communication over a computer network

In this paper, we describe the brain activities that are associated with graphic emoticons by using functional MRI (fMRI). We use various types of faces, from abstract to photorealistic, in computer network applications. A graphics emoticon is an abstract face in communication over a computer network. In this research, we created various graphic emoticons for the fMRI study and the graphic emoticons were classified according to friendliness and level of arousal. We investigated the brain activities of participants who were required to evaluate the emotional valence of the graphic emoticons (happy or sad). The experimental results showed that not only the right inferior frontal gyrus and the cingulate gyrus, but also the inferior and middle temporal gyrus and the fusiform gyrus, were found to be activated during the experiment. Furthermore, it is possible that the activation of the right inferior frontal gyrus and the cingulate gyrus is related to the type of abstract face. Since the inferior and middle temporal gyrus were activated, even though the graphic emoticons are static, we may perceive graphic emoticons as dynamic and living agents. Moreover, it is believed that text and graphics emoticons play an important role in enriching communication among users. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 177(3): 36–45, 2011; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.21162