Rapid facial reactions (RFRs) to observed emotional expressions are proposed to be involved in a wide array of socioemotional skills, from empathy to social communication. Two of the most persuasive theoretical accounts propose RFRs to rely either on motor resonance mechanisms or on more complex mechanisms involving affective processes. Previous studies demonstrated that presentation of facial and bodily expressions can generate rapid changes in adult and school-age children's muscle activity. However, to date there is little to no evidence to suggest the existence of emotional RFRs from infancy to preschool age. To investigate whether RFRs are driven by motor mimicry or could also be a result of emotional appraisal processes, we recorded facial electromyographic (EMG) activation from the zygomaticus major and frontalis medialis muscles to presentation of static facial and bodily expressions of emotions (i.e., happiness, anger, fear, and neutral) in 3-year-old children. Results showed no specific EMG activation in response to bodily emotion expressions. However, observing others' happy faces led to increased activation of the zygomaticus major and decreased activation of the frontalis medialis, whereas observing others' angry faces elicited the opposite pattern of activation. This study suggests that RFRs are the result of complex mechanisms in which both affective processes and motor resonance may play an important role.

Geangu, E., Quadrelli, E., Conte, S., Croci, E., Turati, C. (2016). Three-year-olds' rapid facial electromyographic responses to emotional facial expressions and body postures. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL CHILD PSYCHOLOGY, 144, 1-14 [10.1016/j.jecp.2015.11.001].

Three-year-olds' rapid facial electromyographic responses to emotional facial expressions and body postures

QUADRELLI, ERMANNO
Secondo
;
CONTE, STEFANIA;CROCI, EMANUELA
Penultimo
;
TURATI, CHIARA
Ultimo
2016

Abstract

Rapid facial reactions (RFRs) to observed emotional expressions are proposed to be involved in a wide array of socioemotional skills, from empathy to social communication. Two of the most persuasive theoretical accounts propose RFRs to rely either on motor resonance mechanisms or on more complex mechanisms involving affective processes. Previous studies demonstrated that presentation of facial and bodily expressions can generate rapid changes in adult and school-age children's muscle activity. However, to date there is little to no evidence to suggest the existence of emotional RFRs from infancy to preschool age. To investigate whether RFRs are driven by motor mimicry or could also be a result of emotional appraisal processes, we recorded facial electromyographic (EMG) activation from the zygomaticus major and frontalis medialis muscles to presentation of static facial and bodily expressions of emotions (i.e., happiness, anger, fear, and neutral) in 3-year-old children. Results showed no specific EMG activation in response to bodily emotion expressions. However, observing others' happy faces led to increased activation of the zygomaticus major and decreased activation of the frontalis medialis, whereas observing others' angry faces elicited the opposite pattern of activation. This study suggests that RFRs are the result of complex mechanisms in which both affective processes and motor resonance may play an important role.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
Body postures; Children; EMG; Emotion; Faces; Rapid facial responses;
Rapid facial responses; Emotion; EMG; Faces; Body postures; Children
English
2016
144
1
14
reserved
Geangu, E., Quadrelli, E., Conte, S., Croci, E., Turati, C. (2016). Three-year-olds' rapid facial electromyographic responses to emotional facial expressions and body postures. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL CHILD PSYCHOLOGY, 144, 1-14 [10.1016/j.jecp.2015.11.001].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/96994
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