---
type: source
id: schindler-2017-erp-realism
title: Differential effects of face-realism and emotion on event-related brain potentials and their implications for the uncanny valley theory
authors:
- Sebastian Schindler
- Eduard Zell
- Mario Botsch
- Johanna Kissler
year: 2017
venue: Scientific Reports
volume: '7'
pages: '45003'
doi: 10.1038/srep45003
peer_review: peer-reviewed-journal
evidence_tier: B
design: EEG/ERP; the same faces rendered at 6 realism levels (1 = abstract to 6 = real photograph) × happy/angry/neutral expressions; no eeriness or likability ratings
modality:
- cg-face
stimuli: Stylisation continuum from abstract to photographic
n_participants: 33
n_note: recruited (22 female, mean age 23.3); analysed N not confirmed
topics:
- uncanny-valley
- neural
summary: N170 was U-shaped across realism (strongest for most abstract and most realistic faces), LPP increased linearly with realism, and EPN was unaffected by realism; no uncanny 'dip' was directly observed.
results:
- metric: N170
  value: U-shaped (quadratic) across realism
  note: stronger for most abstract and most realistic; realism × emotion interaction
  source_location: null
- metric: EPN
  value: no realism effect
  note: modulated by emotion only (largest for angry)
  source_location: null
- metric: LPP
  value: linear increase with realism
  note: no emotion effect
  source_location: null
- metric: Uncanny valley in ERPs
  value: not directly observed
  note: authors suggest a perceptual basis for the hypothesis
  source_location: null
moderators:
- Happy expressions elicited weaker N170 as realism increased; angry expressions stronger
limitations:
- No eeriness/likability measure
- Stylised CG continuum, not synthetic photoreal faces
mechanism_supported:
- perceptual-basis
- against-affective-valley
verification:
  status: verified-fulltext
  confidence: high
  checked: 2026-10-07
  via: nature.com article page (open access); author list on page may be truncated
url: null
pmid: null
pmcid: null
arxiv_id: null
openalex_id: null
oa_url: null
cited_in:
- MR-0002
updated: '2026-10-07'
---

# Differential effects of face-realism and emotion on event-related brain potentials and their implications for the uncanny valley theory

> **Source record** `schindler-2017-erp-realism` · 2017 · Scientific Reports  
> **Evidence tier:** B (peer-reviewed-journal) · **Verification:** verified-fulltext  
> **Bottom line:** N170 was U-shaped across realism (strongest for most abstract and most realistic faces), LPP increased linearly with realism, and EPN was unaffected by realism; no uncanny 'dip' was directly observed.

## Citation {#citation}

Sebastian Schindler, Eduard Zell, Mario Botsch, Johanna Kissler (2017). Differential effects of face-realism and emotion on event-related brain potentials and their implications for the uncanny valley theory. *Scientific Reports*, 7, 45003. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep45003

Verification entry (identifiers, resolvers, claims with source locations): [/data/citations.json#schindler-2017-erp-realism](/data/citations.json#schindler-2017-erp-realism)

## Study design {#design}

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Design | EEG/ERP; the same faces rendered at 6 realism levels (1 = abstract to 6 = real photograph) × happy/angry/neutral expressions; no eeriness or likability ratings |
| Modality | cg-face |
| Stimuli | Stylisation continuum from abstract to photographic |
| Participants (N) | 33 |
| N detail | recruited (22 female, mean age 23.3); analysed N not confirmed |
| Topics | uncanny-valley, neural |

## Results {#results}

| Metric | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| N170 | U-shaped (quadratic) across realism | stronger for most abstract and most realistic; realism × emotion interaction |
| EPN | no realism effect | modulated by emotion only (largest for angry) |
| LPP | linear increase with realism | no emotion effect |
| Uncanny valley in ERPs | not directly observed | authors suggest a perceptual basis for the hypothesis |

## Moderators {#moderators}

- Happy expressions elicited weaker N170 as realism increased; angry expressions stronger

## Mechanism relevance {#mechanism}

`perceptual-basis`, `against-affective-valley`

## Limitations {#limitations}

- No eeriness/likability measure
- Stylised CG continuum, not synthetic photoreal faces

## Cited in {#cited-in}

- [MR-0002](/metareports/uncanny-valley-and-synthetic-faces.md): The Uncanny Valley and Synthetic Media: Does It Exist, What Causes It, and Have Deepfakes Crossed It?

## Verification {#verification}

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | `verified-fulltext` |
| Compiler confidence | high |
| Checked on | 2026-10-07 |
| Via | nature.com article page (open access); author list on page may be truncated |