The impact of sensory processing sensitivity on subtle dynamic facial expression recognition and metacognitive awareness.

This study examines subtle dynamic facial expression recognition and associated metacognitive awareness, and how these cognitive processes are modulated by Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS). Participants (n = 127) completed a dynamic subtle expression categorization task featuring stimuli that displayed only the initial phase of emotional unfolding of full-blown dynamic expressions. Four expressions were included: happy, fearful, angry, and neutral, and participants categorized them using a three-choice format comprising happy, fearful, and angry. Results showed that happiness was recognized most accurately, followed by fear and anger. Higher SPS, as measured by the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS), predicted greater accuracy in recognizing all three emotional categories, suggesting enhanced sensitivity to both positive (happy) and negative (fearful, angry) affective cues. Additionally, an overconfidence bias was observed selectively for fearful expressions. This bias was attenuated as SPS level increased, suggesting greater metacognitive awareness for fear among individuals with high SPS, whereas metacognitive awareness for happy and angry expressions was observed across all participants. These effects remained significant after controlling for Neuroticism, suggesting that refined emotional perception is a distinct feature of SPS. Together, these findings provide empirical support for both perceptual and metacognitive refinement in emotion recognition among highly sensitive individuals. Such heightened sensitivity to subtle emotional cues may underpin their greater empathy and prosocial behaviour, while also contributing to their susceptibility to social and emotional overload.