Final answer:
Studies imply that the type of eye gaze could influence the speed of detecting facial expressions, as saccadic movements help us focus on key facial features quickly. Innate skills in expression recognition and the facial feedback hypothesis suggest a complex relationship between gaze, expression detection, and our emotional responses.
Step-by-step explanation:
The research on whether the type of eye gaze enhances our ability to detect facial expressions is fascinating and multifaceted. According to studies like Tamietto et al. (2009), even unseen facial and bodily expressions can trigger fast emotional reactions, suggesting our perception systems are highly sensitive and responsive to facial cues. It is also important to note that saccadic eye movements are rapid shifts in gaze allowing us to quickly survey complex visual stimuli like faces, focusing on major features such as the eyes and mouth, which could facilitate quicker detection and interpretation of expressions.
Furthermore, Ekman's extensive research indicates that certain facial expressions are universally recognized, implying that humans have innate skills in facial expression detection, potentially moderated by gaze patterns. The facial feedback hypothesis also interacts with this question, suggesting our expressions can affect our emotional experiences (e.g., smiling leading to happiness), which could implicitly influence our speed in recognizing others' emotions.