Return to the Penn Emotion Recognition Tests (ER-40) page
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*Penn Emotion Recognition Task (ER-40)* (French version)
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Script Author: Katja Borchert, Ph.D. (katjab@millisecond.com) for Millisecond Software, LLC
Date: 02-23-2018
last updated: 10-21-2020 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com) for Millisecond Software, LLC
Script Copyright © 10-21-2020 Millisecond Software
Millisecond Software thanks Chanelle Lefebvre for providing French translations!
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BACKGROUND INFO
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This script implements the Penn Emotion Recognition Task (ER-40); a task to assess facial emotion recognition
ability using images of 4 different emotions (anger, fear, happiness, sadness) in low and high intensity
and neutral expressions.
References:
Kohler, C., Turner, T., Gur, R., & Gur, R. (2004). Recognition of Facial Emotions in Neuropsychiatric Disorders.
CNS Spectrums, 9(4), 267-274. doi:10.1017/S1092852900009202
Images: https://www.med.upenn.edu/bbl/2dfaces.html
Description of ER-40:
Carter et al (2009). CNTRICS Final Task Selection: Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience–Based
MeasuresSchizophrenia Bulletin vol. 35 no. 1 pp. 153–162
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TASK DESCRIPTION
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"The ER-40 is a computerized measure designed in both-PowerLaboratoryandMacromediaFlashplatforms which
allows testing either on dedicated hardware or through the internet. Participants are instructed to examine a
series of faces and identify the expressed emotion from 5 possible choices. The task begins with a practice trial
in which feedback is provided. If the participant’s response is incorrect, she/he is informed of the correct answer
and is directed back to the practice trial until a correct response is made. All other stimuli are presented in
randomized order, and the average testing time is under 5 min." (Carter et al, 2009, p.156)
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DURATION
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the default set-up of the script takes appr. 3 minutes to complete
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DATA FILE INFORMATION
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The default data stored in the data files are:
(1) Raw data file: 'pennemotionrecognitiontask_french_raw*.iqdat' (a separate file for each participant)*
build: The specific Inquisit version used (the 'build') that was run
computer.platform: the platform the script was run on (win/mac/ios/android)
date, time, date and time script was run
subject, group, with the current subject/groupnumber
script.sessionid: with the current session id
blockcode, blocknum: the name and number of the current block (built-in Inquisit variable)
trialcode, trialnum: the name and number of the currently recorded trial (built-in Inquisit variable)
Note: trialnum is a built-in Inquisit variable; it counts all trials run; even those
that do not store data to the data file such as feedback trials. Thus, trialnum
may not reflect the number of main trials run per block.
values.emotion: 1 = happy; 2 = sad; 3 = anger; 4 = fear; 5 = neutral
values.intensity: 0 = no intensity (neutral); 1 = low; 2 = high
values.gender: 1 = female; 2 = male
stimulusitem: the presented stimuli in order of trial presentation (here: the file name of the picture presented)
response: the participant's response (the selected emotion)
correct: accuracy of response: 1 = correct response; 0 = otherwise
latency: the response latency (in ms); measured from: onset of image
values.countCorrect: number of correctly selected emotions
(2) Summary data file: 'pennemotionrecognitiontask_french_summary*.iqdat' (a separate file for each participant)*
computer.platform: the platform the script was run on (win/mac/ios/android)
script.startdate: date script was run
script.starttime: time script was started
script.subjectid: assigned subject id number
script.groupid: assigned group id number
script.sessionid: assigned session id number
script.elapsedtime: time it took to run script (in ms); measured from onset to offset of script
script.completed: 0 = script was not completed (prematurely aborted);
1 = script was completed (all conditions run)
expressions.propCorrect: proportion correct
values.countCorrect: number of correctly selected emotions
expressions.meanRT: mean reaction time (in ms) (across correct and incorrect selections)
expressions.meanCorrRT: mean correct reaction time (in ms)
expressions.medianRT: median reaction time (in ms) (across correct and incorrect selections)
expressions.medianCorrRT: median correct reaction time (in ms)
* separate data files: to change to one data file for all participants (on Inquisit Lab only), go to section
"DATA" and follow further instructions
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EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP
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(1) Practice Trial
* the practice trial is repeated until the correct response is provided
(2) Test: 40 trials
- 2 gender x 5 emotions x 2 intensities x 2 examples each
- order is randomized
- no time limit
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STIMULI
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40 face images
- 20 female faces (4 angry, 4 fearful, 4 happy, 4 sad, 4 neutral)
- 20 male faces (4 angry, 4 fearful, 4 happy, 4 sad, 4 neutral)
"Stimuli are balanced for poser’s gender, age, and ethnicity, and for each emotion category, 4 high-intensity
and 4 low-intensity expressions are included." (Carter et al, 2009, p.155)
Images: https://www.med.upenn.edu/bbl/2dfaces.html
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INSTRUCTIONS
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see section Editable Instructions
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EDITABLE CODE
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check below for (relatively) easily editable parameters, stimuli, instructions etc.
Keep in mind that you can use this script as a template and therefore always "mess" with the entire code to
further customize your experiment.
The parameters you can change are:
/showSummaryFeedback: true (1): participants are given the number of correctly selected emotions
and their median reaction time
false (0): no performance feedback is provided at the end
/picSize: the proportional size (relative to canvas) of the images (default: 40%)
/ITI: inter trial interval in ms (default: 0ms): blank screen after each trial