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Bress KS, Cascio CJ. Sensorimotor regulation of facial expression - An untouched frontier. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 162:105684. [PMID: 38710425 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Facial expression is a critical form of nonverbal social communication which promotes emotional exchange and affiliation among humans. Facial expressions are generated via precise contraction of the facial muscles, guided by sensory feedback. While the neural pathways underlying facial motor control are well characterized in humans and primates, it remains unknown how tactile and proprioceptive information reaches these pathways to guide facial muscle contraction. Thus, despite the importance of facial expressions for social functioning, little is known about how they are generated as a unique sensorimotor behavior. In this review, we highlight current knowledge about sensory feedback from the face and how it is distinct from other body regions. We describe connectivity between the facial sensory and motor brain systems, and call attention to the other brain systems which influence facial expression behavior, including vision, gustation, emotion, and interoception. Finally, we petition for more research on the sensory basis of facial expressions, asserting that incomplete understanding of sensorimotor mechanisms is a barrier to addressing atypical facial expressivity in clinical populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly S Bress
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
| | - Carissa J Cascio
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
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Japee S, Jordan J, Licht J, Lokey S, Chen G, Snow J, Jabs EW, Webb BD, Engle EC, Manoli I, Baker C, Ungerleider LG. Inability to move one's face dampens facial expression perception. Cortex 2023; 169:35-49. [PMID: 37852041 PMCID: PMC10836030 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2023.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Humans rely heavily on facial expressions for social communication to convey their thoughts and emotions and to understand them in others. One prominent but controversial view is that humans learn to recognize the significance of facial expressions by mimicking the expressions of others. This view predicts that an inability to make facial expressions (e.g., facial paralysis) would result in reduced perceptual sensitivity to others' facial expressions. To test this hypothesis, we developed a diverse battery of sensitive emotion recognition tasks to characterize expression perception in individuals with Moebius Syndrome (MBS), a congenital neurological disorder that causes facial palsy. Using computer-based detection tasks we systematically assessed expression perception thresholds for static and dynamic face and body expressions. We found that while MBS individuals were able to perform challenging perceptual control tasks and body expression tasks, they were less efficient at extracting emotion from facial expressions, compared to matched controls. Exploratory analyses of fMRI data from a small group of MBS participants suggested potentially reduced engagement of the amygdala in MBS participants during expression processing relative to matched controls. Collectively, these results suggest a role for facial mimicry and consequent facial feedback and motor experience in the perception of others' facial expressions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shruti Japee
- Laboratory of Brain and Cognition, NIMH, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Jessica Jordan
- Laboratory of Brain and Cognition, NIMH, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Judith Licht
- Laboratory of Brain and Cognition, NIMH, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Savannah Lokey
- Laboratory of Brain and Cognition, NIMH, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Gang Chen
- Scientific and Statistical Computing Core, NIMH, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Joseph Snow
- Office of the Clinical Director, NIMH, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ethylin Wang Jabs
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Bryn D Webb
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Genetics and Metabolism, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Elizabeth C Engle
- Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Irini Manoli
- Medical Genomics and Metabolic Genetics, NHGRI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Chris Baker
- Laboratory of Brain and Cognition, NIMH, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Arnold D, Thielker J, Klingner CM, Guntinas-Lichius O, Volk GF. Selective zygomaticus muscle activation by ball electrodes in synkinetically reinnervated patients after facial paralysis. FRONTIERS IN REHABILITATION SCIENCES 2023; 4:1205154. [PMID: 37908489 PMCID: PMC10613664 DOI: 10.3389/fresc.2023.1205154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Although many different treatments were developed for facial palsy, only a few therapeutic options are available for facial synkinesis. Electrical stimulation of specific muscles via implants could be useful in restoring facial symmetry in synkinetic patients. A challenge in developing stimulation devices is finding the right stimulation location, type, and amplitude. This work assesses the ability to selectively stimulate the zygomaticus muscle (ZYG) in patients with oral-ocular synkinesis to elicit a visually detectable response of the ipsilateral corner of the mouth (COM), without causing a reaction of the orbicularis oculi muscle (OOM). We aimed to assess how close to the COM the stimulation should be delivered in order to be selective. Methods A total of 10 patients (eight females, two males) were enrolled. Facial function was graded according to the Sunnybrook facial grading system. Needle EMG was used to test the activities of the muscles, during volitional and "unintended" movements, and the degree of synkinesis of the ZYG and OOM. Two ball electrodes connected to an external stimulator were placed on the paretic ZYG, as close as possible to the COM. Results Independent of the waveform with which the stimulation was presented, a selective ZYG response was observed within 4.5 cm of the horizontal plane and 3 cm of the vertical plane of the COM. When the distance between the electrodes was kept to ≤2 cm, the amplitude necessary to trigger a response ranged between 3 and 6 mA when the stimulation was delivered with triangular pulses and between 2.5 and 3.5 mA for rectangular pulses. The required amplitude did not seem to be dependent on the applied phase duration (PD), as long as the PD was ≥5 ms. Conclusion Our results show that selective stimulation of the ZYG presenting synkinetic ZYG-OOM reinnervation can be achieved using a broad PD range (25-1,000 ms) and an average amplitude ≤6 mA, which may be further decreased to 3.5 mA if the stimulation is delivered via rectangular rather than triangular waves. The most comfortable and effective results were observed with PDs between 50 and 250 ms, suggesting that this range should be selected in future studies. Clinical Trial Registration [https://drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00019992], identifier (DRKS00019992).
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk Arnold
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
- Facial-Nerve-Center Jena, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Jovanna Thielker
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
- Facial-Nerve-Center Jena, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Carsten M. Klingner
- Facial-Nerve-Center Jena, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
- Center for Rare Diseases, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Orlando Guntinas-Lichius
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
- Facial-Nerve-Center Jena, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
- Center for Rare Diseases, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Gerd Fabian Volk
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
- Facial-Nerve-Center Jena, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
- Center for Rare Diseases, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
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Naal-Ruiz NE, Alonso-Valerdi LM, Ibarra-Zarate DI, Serrano-Cena A, Navas-Reascos G. Mexican validation of the International Affective Digitized Sounds second edition (IADS-2) and additional sounds. Sci Rep 2022; 12:21824. [PMID: 36528640 PMCID: PMC9758458 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-26320-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Affective stimuli have been extensively used in emotion research for a better understanding of emotion regulation. Sound ratings, specifically non-verbal sounds, are biased by demographic indicators such as sex and nationality. Therefore, it is crucial to characterize sounds prior to their use in emotion research. This study aims to validate the IADS-2 database and additional sounds in a sample from the Mexican population. Three hundred twenty-nine participants born and raised in Mexico remotely listened to 174 sounds in monophonic format. They rated sounds according to the valence-arousal-dominance model using the Self-Assessment Manikin test. Results positively correlated to those of previous studies. Sex differences were observed only in dominance between female and male groups, contrary to the results from Portuguese, American and Japanese validations. Geographic region analysis demonstrated differences in arousal, indicating the need for additional research on occident and south regions. Furthermore, when conducting affective research, headphones and audio quality should be considered, primarily to reduce variability due to audio-related aspects, and to avoid changes in emotional experience. Finally, this study supports the feasibility of remote affective sound experiments over the internet as reported in previous research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norberto E. Naal-Ruiz
- grid.419886.a0000 0001 2203 4701Escuela de Ingenieria y Ciencias, Tecnologico de Monterrey, 64849 Monterrey, Nuevo Leon Mexico
| | - Luz M. Alonso-Valerdi
- grid.419886.a0000 0001 2203 4701Escuela de Ingenieria y Ciencias, Tecnologico de Monterrey, 64849 Monterrey, Nuevo Leon Mexico
| | - David I. Ibarra-Zarate
- grid.419886.a0000 0001 2203 4701Escuela de Ingenieria y Ciencias, Tecnologico de Monterrey, 64849 Monterrey, Nuevo Leon Mexico
| | - Alba Serrano-Cena
- grid.419886.a0000 0001 2203 4701Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Tecnologico de Monterrey, 64849 Monterrey, Nuevo Leon Mexico
| | - Gustavo Navas-Reascos
- grid.419886.a0000 0001 2203 4701Escuela de Ingenieria y Ciencias, Tecnologico de Monterrey, 64849 Monterrey, Nuevo Leon Mexico
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Mirror neurons 30 years later: implications and applications. Trends Cogn Sci 2022; 26:767-781. [PMID: 35803832 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2022.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Mirror neurons (MNs) were first described in a seminal paper in 1992 as a class of monkey premotor cells discharging during both action execution and observation. Despite their debated origin and function, recent studies in several species, from birds to humans, revealed that beyond MNs properly so called, a variety of cell types distributed among multiple motor, sensory, and emotional brain areas form a 'mirror mechanism' more complex and flexible than originally thought, which has an evolutionarily conserved role in social interaction. Here, we trace the current limits and envisage the future trends of this discovery, showing that it inspired translational research and the development of new neurorehabilitation approaches, and constitutes a point of no return in social and affective neuroscience.
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De Stefani E, Barbot A, Zannoni C, Belluardo M, Bertolini C, Cosoli R, Bianchi B, Ferri A, Zito F, Bergonzani M, Schiano Lomoriello A, Sessa P, Ferrari PF. Post-surgery Rehabilitative Intervention Based on Imitation Therapy and Mouth-Hand Motor Synergies Provides Better Outcomes in Smile Production in Children and Adults With Long Term Facial Paralysis. Front Neurol 2022; 13:757523. [PMID: 35665048 PMCID: PMC9156860 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.757523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rehabilitation after free gracilis muscle transfer (smile surgery, SS) is crucial for a functional recovery of the smiling skill, mitigating social and psychological problems resulting from facial paralysis. We compared two post-SS rehabilitation treatments: the traditional based on teeth clenching exercises and the FIT-SAT (facial imitation and synergistic activity treatment). FIT-SAT, based on observation/imitation therapy and on hand-mouth motor synergies would facilitate neuronal activity in the facial motor cortex avoiding unwanted contractions of the jaw, implementing muscle control. We measured the smile symmetry on 30 patients, half of whom after SS underwent traditional treatment (control group, CG meanage = 20 ± 9) while the other half FIT-SAT (experimental group, EG meanage= 21 ± 14). We compared pictures of participants while holding two postures: maximum and gentle smile. The former corresponds to the maximal muscle contraction, whereas the latter is strongly linked to the control of muscle strength during voluntary movements. No differences were observed between the two groups in the maximum smile, whereas in the gentle smile the EG obtained a better symmetry than the CG. These results support the efficacy of FIT-SAT in modulating the smile allowing patients to adapt their smile to the various social contexts, aspect which is crucial during reciprocal interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa De Stefani
- Unit of Neuroscience, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry–NPIA District of Scandiano, AUSL of Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
- *Correspondence: Elisa De Stefani
| | - Anna Barbot
- Operative Unit of Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Head and Neck Department, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Cecilia Zannoni
- Operative Unit of Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Head and Neck Department, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Mauro Belluardo
- Unit of Neuroscience, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Chiara Bertolini
- Operative Unit of Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Head and Neck Department, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Rita Cosoli
- Unit of Neuroscience, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Bernardo Bianchi
- Operative Unit of Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Head and Neck Department, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Andrea Ferri
- Operative Unit of Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Head and Neck Department, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Francesca Zito
- Operative Unit of Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Head and Neck Department, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Michela Bergonzani
- Operative Unit of Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Head and Neck Department, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | - Paola Sessa
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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Dobreva D, Gkantidis N, Halazonetis D, Verna C, Kanavakis G. Smile Reproducibility and Its Relationship to Self-Perceived Smile Attractiveness. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11050719. [PMID: 35625447 PMCID: PMC9138875 DOI: 10.3390/biology11050719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The reproducibility of facial expressions has been previously explored, however, there is no detailed information regarding the reproducibility of lip morphology forming a social smile. In this study, we recruited 93 young adults, aged 21−35 years old, who agreed to participate in two consecutive study visits four weeks apart. On each visit, they were asked to perform a social smile, which was captured on a 3D facial image acquired using the 3dMD camera system. Assessments of self-perceived smile attractiveness were also performed using a VAS scale. Lip morphology, including smile shape, was described using 62 landmarks and semi-landmarks. A Procrustes superimposition of each set of smiling configurations (first and second visit) was performed and the Euclidean distance between each landmark set was calculated. A linear regression model was used to test the association between smile consistency and self-perceived smile attractiveness. The results show that the average landmark distance between sessions did not exceed 1.5 mm, indicating high repeatability, and that females presented approximately 15% higher smile consistecy than males (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant association between smile consistency and self-perceived smile attractiveness (η2 = 0.015; p = 0.252), when controlling for the effect of sex and age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denitsa Dobreva
- Department of Pediatric Oral Health and Orthodontics, University Center for Dental Medicine UZB, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 40, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; (D.D.); (C.V.)
| | - Nikolaos Gkantidis
- Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, University of Bern, 3001 Bern, Switzerland;
| | - Demetrios Halazonetis
- Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, GR-11527 Athens, Greece;
| | - Carlalberta Verna
- Department of Pediatric Oral Health and Orthodontics, University Center for Dental Medicine UZB, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 40, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; (D.D.); (C.V.)
| | - Georgios Kanavakis
- Department of Pediatric Oral Health and Orthodontics, University Center for Dental Medicine UZB, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 40, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; (D.D.); (C.V.)
- Department of Orthodontics, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
- Correspondence:
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Belluardo M, De Stefani E, Barbot A, Bianchi B, Zannoni C, Ferrari A, Rayson H, Di Nuovo S, Belluardo G, Sessa P, Ferrari PF. Facial Expression Time Processing in Typical Development and in Patients with Congenital Facial Palsy. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12050516. [PMID: 35624903 PMCID: PMC9138467 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12050516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Temporal dynamics of behavior, particularly facial expressions, are fundamental for communication between individuals from very early in development. Facial expression processing has been widely demonstrated to involve embodied simulative processes mediated by the motor system. Such processes may be impaired in patients with congenital facial palsy, including those affected by Moebius syndrome (MBS). The aims of this study were to investigate (a) the role of motor mechanisms in the processing of dynamic facial expression timing by testing patients affected by congenital facial palsy and (b) age-dependent effects on such processing. Accordingly, we recruited 38 typically developing individuals and 15 individuals with MBS, ranging in age from childhood to adulthood. We used a time comparison task where participants were asked to identify which one of two dynamic facial expressions was faster. Results showed that MBS individuals performed worse than controls in correctly estimating the duration of facial expressions. Interestingly, we did not find any performance differences in relation to age. These findings provide further evidence for the involvement of the motor system in processing facial expression duration and suggest that a sensorimotor matching mechanism may contribute to such timing perception from childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Belluardo
- Unit of Neuroscience, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43125 Parma, Italy; (E.D.S.); (A.F.)
- Correspondence: (M.B.); (P.F.F.)
| | - Elisa De Stefani
- Unit of Neuroscience, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43125 Parma, Italy; (E.D.S.); (A.F.)
- Unit of Paediatric Neuropsychiatry, Reggio Emilia Hospital, 42019 Scandiano, Italy
| | - Anna Barbot
- Unit of Audiology and Paediatric Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital of Parma, 43125 Parma, Italy;
| | - Bernardo Bianchi
- Maxillo-Facial Surgery Operative Unit, Head and Neck Department, University of Parma, 43125 Parma, Italy; (B.B.); (C.Z.)
| | - Cecilia Zannoni
- Maxillo-Facial Surgery Operative Unit, Head and Neck Department, University of Parma, 43125 Parma, Italy; (B.B.); (C.Z.)
| | - Alberto Ferrari
- Unit of Neuroscience, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43125 Parma, Italy; (E.D.S.); (A.F.)
| | - Holly Rayson
- Institut des Sciences Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, CNRS/Université Claude Bernard Lyon, 69675 Bron, France;
| | - Santo Di Nuovo
- Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy;
- Italian Association of Psychology (AIP), 00186 Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Belluardo
- Department of Political Sciences, University of Catania, 95131 Catania, Italy;
- EGLE Institute of Psychology and Psychotherapy, 95131 Catania, Italy
| | - Paola Sessa
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy;
| | - Pier Francesco Ferrari
- Unit of Neuroscience, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43125 Parma, Italy; (E.D.S.); (A.F.)
- Institut des Sciences Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, CNRS/Université Claude Bernard Lyon, 69675 Bron, France;
- Correspondence: (M.B.); (P.F.F.)
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Altering Facial Movements Abolishes Neural Mirroring of Facial Expressions. COGNITIVE AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2021; 22:316-327. [PMID: 34642896 PMCID: PMC8983526 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-021-00956-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
People tend to automatically imitate others' facial expressions of emotion. That reaction, termed "facial mimicry" has been linked to sensorimotor simulation-a process in which the observer's brain recreates and mirrors the emotional experience of the other person, potentially enabling empathy and deep, motivated processing of social signals. However, the neural mechanisms that underlie sensorimotor simulation remain unclear. This study tests how interfering with facial mimicry by asking participants to hold a pen in their mouth influences the activity of the human mirror neuron system, indexed by the desynchronization of the EEG mu rhythm. This response arises from sensorimotor brain areas during observed and executed movements and has been linked with empathy. We recorded EEG during passive viewing of dynamic facial expressions of anger, fear, and happiness, as well as nonbiological moving objects. We examine mu desynchronization under conditions of free versus altered facial mimicry and show that desynchronization is present when adult participants can freely move but not when their facial movements are inhibited. Our findings highlight the importance of motor activity and facial expression in emotion communication. They also have important implications for behaviors that involve occupying or hiding the lower part of the face.
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A New Neurorehabilitative Postsurgery Intervention for Facial Palsy Based on Smile Observation and Hand-Mouth Motor Synergies. Neural Plast 2021; 2021:8890541. [PMID: 33833792 PMCID: PMC8016575 DOI: 10.1155/2021/8890541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To perform a preliminary test of a new rehabilitation treatment (FIT-SAT), based on mirror mechanisms, for gracile muscles after smile surgery. Method A pre- and postsurgery longitudinal design was adopted to study the efficacy of FIT-SAT. Four patients with bilateral facial nerve paralysis (Moebius syndrome) were included. They underwent two surgeries with free muscle transfers, one year apart from each other. The side of the face first operated on was rehabilitated with the traditional treatment, while the second side was rehabilitated with FIT-SAT. The FIT-SAT treatment includes video clips of an actor performing a unilateral or a bilateral smile to be imitated (FIT condition). In addition to this, while smiling, the participants close their hand in order to exploit the overlapped cortical motor representation of the hand and the mouth, which may facilitate the synergistic activity of the two effectors during the early phases of recruitment of the transplanted muscles (SAT). The treatment was also aimed at avoiding undesired movements such as teeth grinding. Discussion. Results support FIT-SAT as a viable alternative for smile rehabilitation after free muscle transfer. We propose that the treatment potentiates the effect of smile observation by activating the same neural structures responsible for the execution of the smile and therefore by facilitating its production. Closing of the hand induces cortical recruitment of hand motor neurons, recruiting the transplanted muscles, and reducing the risk of associating other unwanted movements such as teeth clenching to the smile movements.
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Massimino CR, Smilari P, Greco F, Marino S, Vecchio D, Bartuli A, Parisi P, Cho SY, Pavone P. Poland Syndrome with Atypical Malformations Associated to a de novo 1.5 Mb Xp22.31 Duplication. Neuropediatrics 2020; 51:359-363. [PMID: 32016944 DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-3402009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Poland's syndrome (PS; OMIM 173800) is a rare congenital syndrome which consists of absence or hypoplasia of the pectoralis muscle. Other features can be variably associated, including rib defects. On the affected side other features (such as of breast and nipple anomalies, lack of subcutaneous tissue and skin annexes, hand anomalies, visceral, and vertebral malformation) have been variably documented. To date, association of PS with central nervous system malformation has been rarely reported remaining poorly understood and characterized. We report a left-sided PS patient carrying a de novo 1.5 Mb Xp22.31 duplication diagnosed in addiction to strabismus, optic nerves and chiasm hypoplasia, corpus callosum abnormalities, ectopic neurohypophysis, pyelic ectasia, and neurodevelopmental delay. Since, to our knowledge, this features' association has not been previously reported, we argue that this case may contribute to further widening of the variability of PS phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmela R Massimino
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pediatrics and Child Neuropsychiatry, University of Catania, Catania, CT, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Smilari
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pediatrics and Child Neuropsychiatry, University of Catania, Catania, CT, Italy
| | - Filippo Greco
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pediatrics and Child Neuropsychiatry, University of Catania, Catania, CT, Italy
| | - Silvia Marino
- University-Hospital "Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele," University of Catania, Catania, CT, Italy
| | - Davide Vecchio
- Rare Disease and Medical Genetics, Academic Department of Pediatrics, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Bartuli
- Rare Disease and Medical Genetics, Academic Department of Pediatrics, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Pasquale Parisi
- Child Neurology, Chair of Pediatrics, NESMOS Department, Faculty of Medicine & Psychology, Sapienza University, c/o Sant' Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Sung Y Cho
- Department of Pediatrics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Piero Pavone
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pediatrics and Child Neuropsychiatry, University of Catania, Catania, CT, Italy.,Department of Pediatrics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Rychlowska M, Vanderwert R. The Pacified Face: Early Embodiment Processes and the Use of Dummies. Front Psychol 2020; 11:387. [PMID: 32231618 PMCID: PMC7082417 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Few things affect us as much as facial expressions, as they inform us about others' feelings and intentions, thereby influencing our own emotions and behaviors. A substantial body of literature links the critical abilities of recognizing and understanding emotion displays with facial mimicry, a sensorimotor process involving rapid imitation of perceived expressions. For example, blocking or altering facial mimicry in adults leads to disruptions in judgments in emotion recognition or emotional language processing. The present review focuses on pacifier use in infancy, a common practice that has the potential to interfere with infants' facial movements in ways identical to laboratory paradigms designed to block facial mimicry. Despite this similarity and the widespread use of infant soothers, little is known about their long-term effects. Here we review studies exploring the psychological correlates and implications of pacifier use. In particular, we discuss how soothers may interfere with the development of social skills in infants and present evidence linking pacifier use with disrupted adults' mimicry of facial expressions displayed by infants. Other preliminary findings reveal negative correlations between the use of soothers and children's spontaneous facial mimicry as well as emotional competence of young adults. Such studies, although correlational, suggest that this widespread parenting practice may affect the development of social skills by influencing emotional coordination. We discuss the implications of these findings and propose avenues for future research that can provide insights into the role of embodied processes in the development of emotional competence and adult functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ross Vanderwert
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
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