Facial Electromyographic Responses Research Articles

Facial EMG and heart rate responses to emotion‐inducing film clips in boys with disruptive behavior disorders

We examined aspects of emotional empathy across different physiological response systems in boys with disruptive behavior disorders (DBD) and normal controls. Heart rate (HR) and electromyographic (EMG) reactivity in zygomaticus major and corrugator supercilii muscles were monitored during sadness-, anger-, or happiness-inducing film clips. Relative to controls, DBD boys showed significantly less HR reduction during sadness, and a smaller increase in corrugator EMG activity both during sadness and anger. No significant group differences emerged in HR and zygomaticus EMG responsivity during happiness. We also examined cardiac activity at rest and found higher resting HR and lower respiratory sinus arrhythmia in DBD boys compared to controls. Findings give evidence for a selective impairment in empathy with sadness and anger (not happiness) among DBD boys who exhibit relatively high levels of anxiety and poor emotional control.

The Psychophysiology of Digital Gaming: The Effect of a Non Co-Located Opponent

This article examines the effects of a non co-located opponent on self-reported emotions, psychophysiological responses, and presence experiences during digital game playing. In a within-subjects design, participants played Super Monkey Ball Jr. and Duke Nukem Advance against a computer, a non co-located friend, and a non co-located stranger. In addition to self-report ratings, electromyographic (EMG) activity over zygomaticus major, corrugator supercilii, and orbicularis oculi; cardiac interbeat intervals; and skin conductance level were measured to index positive activation, negative activation, and physiological arousal. When compared to playing against a computer, playing against a human elicited more positive emotional responses and higher arousal, spatial presence, and engagement. In addition, playing against a friend elicited more positive emotional responses (as indexed by facial EMG) and higher self-reported arousal and engagement compared to playing against a stranger. The influence of opponent type on facial EMG responses was dependent on dispositional behavioral activation system (BAS) and behavioral inhibition system (BIS) sensitivities of the player. Orbicularis oculi EMG responses to game violence varied also as a function of the player's impulsivity. These data show that the mere knowledge of who is controlling the opponent character strongly influences emotional and other responses to digital games.

Increased oscillatory theta activation evoked by violent digital game events

The authors examined electroencephalographic (EEG) oscillatory responses to two violent events, the player character wounding and killing an opponent character with a gun, in the digital game James Bond 007: NightFire. EEG was recorded from 25 (16 male) right-handed healthy young adults. EEG data were segmented into one 1-s baseline epoch before each event and two 1-s epochs after event onset. Power estimates (microV(2)) were derived with the fast Fourier transform (FFT) for each artefact free event. Both of the studied events evoked increased occipital theta (4-6Hz) responses as compared to the pre-event baseline. The wounding event evoked also increased occipital high theta (6-8Hz) response and the killing event evoked low alpha (8-10Hz) asymmetry over the central electrodes, both relative to the pre-event baseline. The results are discussed in light of facial electromyographic and electrodermal activity responses evoked by these same events, and it is suggested that the reported EEG responses may be attributable to affective processes related to these violent game events.

Facial electromyographic responses to emotional information from faces and voices in individuals with pervasive developmental disorder

Despite extensive research, it is still debated whether impairments in social skills of individuals with pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) are related to specific deficits in the early processing of emotional information. We aimed to test both automatic processing of facial affect as well as the integration of auditory and visual emotion cues in individuals with PDD. In a group of high-functioning adult individuals with PDD and an age- and IQ-matched control group, we measured facial electromyography (EMG) following presentation of visual emotion stimuli (facial expressions) as well as the presentation of audiovisual emotion pairs (faces plus voices). This emotionally driven EMG activity is considered to be a direct correlate of automatic affect processing that is not under intentional control. Our data clearly indicate that among individuals with PDD facial EMG activity is heightened in response to happy and fearful faces, and intact in response to audiovisual affective information. This study provides evidence for enhanced sensitivity to facial cues at the level of reflex-like emotional responses in individuals with PDD. Furthermore, the findings argue against impairments in crossmodal affect processing at this level of perception. However, given how little comparative work has been done in the area of multisensory perception, there is certainly need for further exploration.

Controlling Emotional Expression: Behavioral and Neural Correlates of Nonimitative Emotional Responses

Emotional facial expressions can engender similar expressions in others. However, adaptive social and motivational behavior can require individuals to suppress, conceal, or override prepotent imitative responses. We predicted, in line with a theory of "emotion contagion," that when viewing a facial expression, expressing a different emotion would manifest as behavioral conflict and interference. We employed facial electromyography (EMG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate brain activity related to this emotion expression interference (EEI) effect, where the expressed response was either concordant or discordant with the observed emotion. The Simon task was included as a nonemotional comparison for the fMRI study. Facilitation and interference effects were observed in the latency of facial EMG responses. Neuroimaging revealed activation of distributed brain regions including anterior right inferior frontal gyrus (brain area [BA] 47), supplementary motor area (facial area), posterior superior temporal sulcus (STS), and right anterior insula during emotion expression-associated interference. In contrast, nonemotional response conflict (Simon task) engaged a distinct frontostriatal network. Individual differences in empathy and emotion regulatory tendency predicted the magnitude of EEI-evoked regional activity with BA 47 and STS. Our findings point to these regions as providing a putative neural substrate underpinning a crucial adaptive aspect of social/emotional behavior.

Similar facial electromyographic responses to faces, voices, and body expressions

Observing facial expressions automatically prompts imitation, as can be seen with facial electromyography. To investigate whether this reaction is driven by automatic mimicry or by recognition of the emotion displayed we recorded electromyograph responses to presentations of facial expressions, face-voice combinations and bodily expressions, which resulted from happy and fearful stimuli. We observed emotion-specific facial muscle activity (zygomaticus for happiness, corrugator for fear) for all three stimulus categories. This indicates that spontaneous facial expression is more akin to an emotional reaction than to facial mimicry and imitation of the seen face stimulus. We suggest that seeing a facial expression, an emotional body expression or hearing an emotional tone of voice all activate the affect program corresponding to the emotion displayed.

Spatial Presence and Emotions during Video Game Playing: Does It Matter with Whom You Play?

The authors examined whether the nature of the opponent (computer, friend, or stranger) influences spatial presence, emotional responses, and threat and challenge appraisals when playing video games. In a within-subjects design, participants played two different video games against a computer, a friend, and a stranger. In addition to self-report ratings, cardiac interbeat intervals (IBIs) and facial electromyography (EMG) were measured to index physiological arousal and emotional valence. When compared to playing against a computer, playing against another human elicited higher spatial presence, engagement, anticipated threat, post-game challenge appraisals, and physiological arousal, as well as more positively valenced emotional responses. In addition, playing against a friend elicited greater spatial presence, engagement, and self-reported and physiological arousal, as well as more positively valenced facial EMG responses, compared to playing against a stranger. The nature of the opponent influences spatial presence when playing video games, possibly through the mediating influence on arousal and attentional processes.

Facial EMG responses to dynamic emotional facial expressions in boys with disruptive behavior disorders

Based on the assumption that facial mimicry is a key factor in emotional empathy, and clinical observations that children with disruptive behavior disorders (DBD) are weak empathizers, the present study explored whether DBD boys are less facially responsive to facial expressions of emotions than normal controls. Facial electromyographic (EMG) activity in the zygomaticus major and corrugator supercilii muscle regions, and heart rate activity were studied in 22 clinically referred 8–12-year-old DBD boys and 22 age-matched normal controls during exposure to dynamic happy and angry expressions. Dispositional emotional empathy was assessed by a self-report questionnaire for children. The happy and angry facial expressions evoked distinct facial EMG response patterns, with increased zygomaticus muscle activity to happy expressions and increased corrugator muscle activity to angry expressions. The corrugator (but not the zygomaticus) muscle response pattern was less pronounced for DBD boys than the normal controls. Attending to the emotional expressions was associated with equivalent cardiac deceleration in both groups, reflecting a similar orienting/attention response. Lower empathy scores were obtained for DBD boys than for normal controls. In conclusion, facial mimicry responses to angry facial expressions were subnormal in DBD boys, which may be a sign of a deficient early component in the process of emotional empathy, and thus play a role in impaired empathic responding.

Effects of Image Motion on a Small Screen on Emotion, Attention, and Memory: Moving-Face Versus Static-Face Newscaster

We examined the modulating influence of a small moving vs. static facial image on emotion- and attention-related subjective and physiological responses to financial news read by a newscaster, and on memory performance among 36 young adults. A moving-face newscaster was associated with high self-reported pleasure and arousal, but not with physiological arousal (electrodermal activity). Facial electromyographic responses to facial image motion were at variance with pleasure ratings. Facial motion was associated with decreased respiratory sinus arrhythmia, an index of attention, and improved memory performance for positive messages. A talking facial image on a small screen increases attention and knowledge acquisition.

The effects of affective interventions in human–computer interaction

The present study investigated the psychophysiological effects of positive and negative affective interventions in human–computer interaction during and after the interventions. Eighteen subjects were exposed to pre-programmed mouse delays in an interactive problem-solving task. Following the mouse delays three types of conditions were used: positive or negative interventions given via speech synthesizer, and no intervention. Facial electromyographic responses were recorded from the zygomaticus major and corrugator supercilii muscle sites. These muscles control smiling and frowning, respectively. Smiling activity was significantly higher during the positive than the other conditions. It was also significantly higher after the positive interventions than the no intervention condition. The frowning activity attenuated significantly more after the positive interventions than the no intervention condition. Following the positive interventions the users' problem solving performance was significantly better than after no intervention. In all, the results suggest that both types of affective intervention had beneficial effects over ignoring the user. The results suggest further that positive intervention may be especially useful.

Prediction of facial nerve outcome using electromyographic responses in acoustic neuroma surgery.

To determine whether early and late postoperative facial nerve function can be predicted on the basis of electromyographic responses in acoustic neuroma surgery. Prospective blinded study. Tertiary referral center. Burst and train electromyographic responses were recorded intraoperatively during the last step of vestibular schwannoma removal. The responses were classified and compared with early and late postoperative facial function in 49 patients who underwent enlarged translabyrinthine acoustic neuroma surgery. In the early postoperative period, 20 of 22 patients with an irritable pattern and 10 of 13 patients with an ordinary pattern had Grade III or better facial nerve function, whereas all 3 patients with a stray pattern and 9 of 11 patients with a silent pattern had Grade V or VI. In the late postoperative period, on the other hand, Grade III or better facial nerve function was achieved in 37 of 38 patients with an irritable, stray, or ordinary pattern, but the facial nerve function remained at Grade V or VI in 2 patients with the silent pattern. Patients with mechanically evoked facial electromyographic responses to the last step of tumor dissection may not experience severe facial nerve dysfunction or show a remarkable improvement. However, patients with silent electromyographic responses during this step tend to experience severe facial nerve dysfunction early in the postoperative course, and some patients may not show any functional improvement.

Facial electromyographic (EMG) responses to emotionally significant visual images: differences between light and heavy drinkers

Fifty participants took part in an experiment designed to investigate individual differences in the effects of alcohol on facial EMG responses to emotionally significant stimuli. Participants took part in two experimental sessions during which they viewed emotionally negative and emotionally positive visual images. In one session they consumed alcohol (0.5 g/kg bodyweight) whilst in the other they consumed soft drink. We classified each participant as a light or heavy drinker on the basis of their self-reported alcohol consumption. Negatively valenced images elicited increases in both frontalis and corrugator activity but alcohol did not moderate this effect either in light or heavy drinkers. Nevertheless, heavy drinkers did respond more strongly to the negatively valenced images and this supports the view that responses to negative emotional stimuli may play a part in the development of heavy drinking as a result of negative reinforcement processes.

Facial electromyographic responses to vocal affect expressions.

In this study we investigated facial electromyographic (EMG) responses to vocal affect expressions. We also measured emotion-related action tendencies by requesting the subjects to indicate their tendency to approach or withdraw from the person uttering the stimulus word. In addition, emotional contagion (EC) was measured with a questionnaire-based scale. The results showed that hearing the expression of anger increased EMG activity in the subjects' brow region more than hearing contentment. In contrast, the expression of contentment activated the periocular muscle region more than anger. The expressions of anger elicited behavioral withdrawal responses, whereas the neutral expressions and contentment evoked approach responses. Subjects scoring low and high on EC exhibited different patterns of EMG responses. The results support the view that negative and positive affects are contagious from hearing human vocal affect expressions.

Social fear and expressive reactions to social stimuli

This study explored whether subjects high as compared to low in social fear react with a more negative emotional response, measured as facial electromyographic (EMG) activity, when exposed to social stimuli (pictures of angry and happy facial expressions). It was found that subjects who rated themselves as relatively high in public speaking fear gave larger negative facial EMG responses (Corrugator supercilii muscle activity) to angry faces than did the low fear subjects. Low fear subjects, on the other hand, gave larger positive facial EMG responses (Zygomatic major muscle activity) to happy faces than did the high fear subjects. It was further found that happy stimuli were rated as more hostile and less friendly and happy by the high fear group. Consistent with earlier findings, it was concluded that the facial EMG technique is sensitive to detecting different reactions among subjects relatively high and low in social fear.

Multivariate Response Patterning of Fear and Anger

This study examined whether differential response patterns are associated with the emotions of fear and anger as compared to neutral and physical action imagery conditions in 27 right-handed male volunteers screened for imagery ability and alexithymia. Fear, anger, neutral, and action states were significantly differentiated on the basis of autonomic measures and facial electromyographic (EMG) responses. Discriminant function analyses (DFAs) using autonomic and facial EMG measures conducted separately on data from two experimental sessions revealed 78% and 72% correct classification of fear and anger, and neutral conditions, respectively. Cross-validation of the DFA using discriminant weights of the first session to classify the second session data led to a 66.5% correct classification of the fear and anger, and neutral imagery conditions. The combined average of both sessions revealed an 84% correct classification rate. Further, when subjective ratings were added to the discriminant function as a manipulation check for the experimental procedure, a 99% correct classification rate was obtained. These data indicate that emotion-specific response patterns for fear and anger are accurately differentiable from each other and from neutral imagery conditions. The findings provide support for the cognitive-physiological network models of physiological emotion specificity.

Intra-operative monitoring by facial electromyographic responses during microvascular decompressive surgery for hemifacial spasm

The facial electromyographic response was monitored intraoperatively in 40 patients with hemifacial spasm who were operated on by microvascular decompression of the facial nerve. All 40 patients showed an abnormal facial electromyographic response (lateral spread response) with a latency of about 10 msec after stimulation. The abnormal response resolved before decompression in 22, resolved immediately with decompression in 16, and failed to resolve in two. Of the 38 patients in whom the abnormal response disappeared during surgery, 36 were postoperatively free from hemifacial spasm and two had mild hemifacial spasm. The two patients in whom the lateral spread response did not disappear during surgery showed persistent hemifacial spasm. In conclusion. Disappearance of the lateral spread response during surgery correlated with the absence of hemifacial spasm in the early postoperative period. The prognosis of hemifacial spasm was good in cases in whom the lateral spread response disappeared. Therefore, the authors think that intra-operative facial electromyography is very useful in assessing the efficacy of microvascular decompression and in predicting the prognosis of hemifacial spasm.

Does imitation enhance memory for faces? Four converging studies.

Four multimethod studies probed the hypothesis, derived from the Zajonc-Markus motor theory of emotion, that facial recognition is enhanced by imitation of the faces. In all studies, participants were (a) randomly assigned to imitate or to concentrate on a set of faces presented on slides; (b) covertly videotaped, or measured for facial electromyographic responses, to assess facial motor responsiveness; (c) asked to recognize faces previously seen from a larger set; and (d) asked to complete individual difference measures relevant to imitation or memory. The major dependent variable was the percentage of faces accurately recognized. Across variations in procedure, persons who initially imitated faces later recognized fewer faces than did persons in various control conditions. No evidence was found for individual difference moderators of this general conclusion. Results call into question the adequacy of the Zajonc-Markus motoric theory explanation of memory for faces.

Facial Nerve Monitoring under Neuromuscular Blockade

The characteristics of facial nerve electromyography at various levels of neuromuscular blockade are unclear. Partial blockade is well known to facilitate anesthetic safety and management. However, the use of neuromuscular blockage in many skull base procedures is avoided to allow intraoperative facial nerve monitoring.We studied the influence of various levels of neuromuscular blockade on facial nerve stimulation in the New Zealand white rabbit. The facial nerve was exposed in the middle ear of six rabbits. Using electromyographic-type facial nerve monitor, we recorded the facial electromyography signals in these rabbits at increasing levels of vecuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade. All animals demonstrated reliable facial electromyography response at all levels of partial neuromuscular blockade (P < .02). Five of the six animals could be monitored throughout complete blockade. These results clearly demonstrate that rabbit facial electromyography monitoring is possible under neuromuscular blockade. The effect of neuromuscular blockers on facial electromyography monitoring deserves further study, as partial blockade would greatly facilitate the management of anesthesia in otologic, neurotologic, and skull base surgery.

The effects of aerobic exercise on cardiovascular, facial EMG, and self-report responses to emotional imagery.

This study examined the effects of exercise on subsequent psychophysiological and self-report responses to emotional imagery, using excitation-transfer theory as a guiding conceptual model. Twenty-four female undergraduates engaged in aerobic exercise (stationary cycling) for 15 minutes, and an equal number of subjects rested quietly for the same time period. All subjects then engaged in anger and sadness imagery trials. Cardiovascular, facial electromyographic, and self-report responses to the imagery were assessed. The results indicated that the subjects in the exercise group showed less peripheral vasoconstriction in response to the imagery than did the quiet rest subjects. Subjects in both groups displayed greater electromyographic activity in the depressor and zygomatic muscle regions during anger than sadness imagery, and subjects in the exercise group tended to show greater corrugator tension during sadness than during anger imagery. Few differences between the groups were found on self-report measures. These findings are discussed with reference to previous research, theoretical implications, and future directions.

Unobservable Facial Actions and Emotion

Surface electromyographic recordings in humans were first made less than 70 years ago, and the electromyographic study of covert facial actions during affect and emotion has less than a 20-year history. Despite the relative youth of facial electromyography, its use in combination with autonomic measures and comprehensive overt facial action coding systems has provided a sensitive and effective armamentarium for investigating emotion and affect-laden information processing. Research over the past decade has demonstrated that facial electromyographic activity varies as a function of the intensity, valence, and sociality of emotional stimuli and shows that facial electromyographic activity is slightly different in deliberately manipulated and spontaneous expressions of emotion. The multiply determined nature of facial actions and expressions, however, has limited the inferences that can be made about the psychological significance of facial electromyographic responses. These limitations have begun to recede in recent years as a result of advances in the psychometric properties of facial electromyographic measurements, the quantification of electromyographic waveforms and patterns, the conjoint measurement of facial electromyographic and electro-cortical activity, the conceptualization of psychophysiological relations, and the formalization of psychophysiological inference.