Modulation of amygdala activity for emotional faces due to botulinum toxin type A injections that prevent frowning.

ABSTRACT: According to the facial feedback hypothesis, when we see an angry or happy face, we contract or flex the relevant muscles to recreate the expression to assist in identifying and experiencing the emotion reflected. We investigated the facial feedback hypothesis by using botulinum toxin type A (onabotulinumtoxinA; onabotA) injections to induce temporary paralysis in the glabellar muscles (responsible for frowning) and measured functional brain activity during the processing of emotional faces. Ten females viewed pictures of happy and angry faces during two functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan sessions: one prior (Pre) to onabotA and one following (Active) onabotA injections. We found Pre vs. Active onabotA modulation of activity in the amygdala for both happy and angry faces, as

SUBMITTER: Stark S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9971043 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature