Perceiving, Processing, and Evaluating Infant Facial Affect in Potential Parents: An ERP Study

Evidence for differences between assigned female at birth (AFAB) and assigned male at birth (AMAB) perceiving, processing, and evaluating infant faces has been mixed. The current study examined whether expected parental self-efficacy (EPSE) and desire for children predicts event-related potentials (ERPs) to infant facial affect in potential parents. No scale for EPSE exists. Therefore, we reworded the Perceived Maternal Parental Self-Efficacy scale from present to future tense. There was no correlation with EPSE scores, ERPs, or behavioral data. No difference was found between AFAB and AMAB in accurately evaluating infant faces; however, AFABs responded more quickly. ERP data revealed significantly higher P300 amplitude for AFAB participants. Peak-to-peak P100/N170 was significantly higher for negative affect stimuli. However, peak-to-peak P100/N170 amplitude showed no difference between AFAB and AMAB. The results of the study suggest sex differences exist, but what is driving those differences may be more than just evolutionary beneficial specialization