Facial expression of emotions is essential for proper social interaction, in addition, it is also very important for a correct interpretation of the facial emotions of others, people with facial paralysis may experience problems of social interaction and emotional recognition.
Facial expressions are innate and universal patterns of behavior, as evidenced by studies comparing facial expressions of blind children and children with normal vision and transcultural studies, among others.
- The result of the studies is that.
- In the different groups.
- The facial expressions were quite similar.
- In addition.
- The individuals did not have difficulty recognizing facial expressions of other groups.
Thanks to facial movements, we are able to express emotions and simulate facial expressions typical of a certain emotion. These facial movements are controlled by two independent circuits; or it will be activated, depending on whether what we want to express through the face is an authentic or simulated emotion.
This type of paralysis is caused by injury in the region of the prefrontal lobe insula, in the white substance of the frontal lobe, or in the thalamus regions of the left hemisphere of the brain, this system is associated with the physical architecture responsible for voluntary movements. facial muscles, which connect to the bone marrow or the flowing part of the lump.
Injuries to this system result in the inability to express real emotions on the side of the face that are controlled to the wound, that is, on the right side of the face.
However, people with this type of paralysis are perfectly able to reproduce a facial expression on both sides of the face.
Intentional facial paralysis, or voluntary facial paralysis, causes the inability to move facial muscles while simulating an emotion. The face-to-injury control side does not meet the request to simulate a particular facial expression.
However, when the emotion is authentic, the facial muscles on both sides of the face respond and the faces of these people are unable to properly claim an emotion they do not feel.
This paralysis is caused by an injury to the primary motor cortex of the right hemisphere; specifically, in the area that matches the face. This may also be due to an injury of the fibers that connect this frontal region to the motor muscle of the facial nerve, also in the right hemisphere of the brain.
The ability to imitate or reproduce the emotions of others and the subsequent response of our own facial expression is what allows us to put ourselves in the place of the other, recognize their emotions and respond appropriately to them.
A neuroimaging study has shown that observation and imitation of emotional expressions cause an increase in the activity of the frontal region of mirror neurons, resulting in more empathetic behaviors and better relationships with others.
The ability to reproduce others’ facial expressions to facilitate recognition of their emotions does not determine that people with voluntary facial paralysis are completely unable to recognize the emotions of others, but they may have some difficulty in doing so.
As we know, emotional expression allows us to communicate with the world as we are, however, this function only makes sense if other people are able to understand this state and respond appropriately to it.
The right hemisphere is more involved in recognition of emotions than the left hemisphere, as a result, people with lesions in the right hemisphere struggle with emotional recognition.
Are there several regions of the brain involved in emotional recognition, such as the amygdala, the prefrontal cortex, mirror neurons?However, we will focus on mirror neurons and the role of imitation in emotion recognition.
When we see someone’s emotional expression, our brain unconsciously and automatically reproduces that emotion imperceptibly.
Our mirror neurons are activated when we observe each other’s facial expressions and allow us to imitate them. The response of the reproduction of facial expression that we do is the one that allows us to understand and sympathize with others.
In addition to voluntary facial paralysis, there is another type of facial paralysis that demonstrates the relationship between expression and emotional recognition. It is Moebius syndrome. This paralysis also affects the facial expression of emotions and, therefore, their recognition.
“The ability to express one’s feelings is a fundamental social competence. -Daniel Goleman-
Facial expression allows us to communicate beyond words, to enrich and accompany what we say with them on many occasions.
In addition, interpreting the facial expressions of others allows us to infer their desires or needs even before understanding them through other channels. In short, facial expressions make us socially smarter.
Living without being able to recognize the expressions of those around us can make our social relationships very difficult, and the inability or difficulty of properly expressing what we feel is a challenge for those around us.
Fortunately, we can use verbal language and other non-verbal language, such as mimicry or prosody, to express ourselves and compensate for facial expression problems.
“Emotions change the way we see the world and interpret the actions of others. -Paul Ekman-