Reacciones musculares faciales ante imágenes con diferente contenido social. Un índice fisiológico de empatía afectiva / Facial muscle reactions to pictures with different social content. A physiological index of affective empathy

Resumen La empatía tiene dos componentes, el afectivo y el cognitivo. La empatía afectiva es la capacidad para sintonizarse afectivamente con las emociones que experimentan otras personas. Su medición se ha hecho, tradicionalmente, a través de medidas de auto-reporte, sin embargo, algunos estudios de población latinoamericana han utilizado medidas fisiológicas de la empatía afectiva. Adicionalmente, se ha planteado la hipótesis de que las personas expuestas a contenido gráfico violento (ej., conflicto armado) pueden estar desensibilizadas hacia este tipo de estímulos. Por ello, el objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar la actividad de los músculos cigomático y corrugador ante imágenes con diferente contenido social, con el fin de establecer la validez de estas medidas fisiológicas como indicadores objetivos de empatía afectiva. Se registró la actividad electromiográfica de estos músculos faciales en 60 sujetos (30 con alta y 30 con baja empatía afectiva), mientras observaban imágenes con contenido social positivo, neutral y negativo. Los resultados mostraron que los participantes con alta empatía afectiva respondieron con mayor actividad del músculo cigomático ante imágenes sociales positivas y con mayor actividad del músculo corrugador ante imágenes sociales negativas, en comparación con los participantes con baja empatía afectiva. También se encontró una relación positiva y significativa entre los puntajes en la escala de preocupación empática y la actividad de los músculos cigomático y corrugador ante imágenes positivas y negativas, respectivamente. Los resultados sugieren que la actividad electromiográfica de los músculos faciales es un indicador objetivo de empatía afectiva y se recomienda utilizarlo para aumentar la validez de los estudios en este campo. No se encontró evidencia de desensibilización ante estímulos sociales aversivos en esta muestra.

Abstract Empathy has two components, the affective and the cognitive component. Affective empathy is the ability to emotionally tune into the emotions that other people experience. Its measurement has been done, traditionally, through self-report measures, however, there are some studies in Latin American population that have used physiological measures of affective empathy. Additionally, it has been hypothesized that people exposed to violent graphic content (e.g., armed conflict) may be desensitized to this type of stimulus. In this context, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the activity of the zygomatic and corrugator muscles to pictures with different social content, in order to establish the validity of these physiological measures as objective indicators of affective empathy. The electromyographic activity of these facial muscles was recorded in 60 subjects (30 with high affective empathy and 30 with low affective empathy), while observing pictures with positive, neutral and negative social content of the International Affective Picture System (IAPS). The results showed that the participants with high affective empathy responded with greater zygomatic muscle activity to positive social pictures (.2,96= 5.93, . = .01, η.. = .11) and with greater corrugator muscle activity to negative social pictures (.2,96 = 4.85, . = .02, η.. = .09), in comparison with participants with low affective empathy. The correlation and regression analyzes show a positive and significant relationship between the scores in the empathic concern scale of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) and the activity of the zygomatic muscle to positive social pictures (β = .39, R. = .15, . = 3.00, . = .004), and the corrugator muscle activity to negative social pictures (β = .27, R.= .07, . = 1.99, . = .05). The results suggest that the electromyographic activity of the facial muscles is an objective indicator of affective empathy. The increase in the activity of the zygomatic and corrugator muscles in people with high affective empathy, when they observe stimuli with different social content, can be supported by the mirror neuron system and the theory of simulation as an explanatory mechanism of empathy. The mirror neuron system is composed of a complex network of visual areas in the occipital, parietal and temporal regions and two predominantly motor regions, which interact to generate movements similar to those observed, in this case the facial expressions of the stimuli. This response in facial mimicry induces affective states similar to those observed, which leads to a response of affective empathy. Finally, the results of the present study do not support the hypothesis of a desensitization in the participants to negative social stimuli due to the fact of being Colombian, because independently of the level of affective empathy, all of them responded with greater activity of the corrugator muscle to negative social pictures in comparison with neutral and positive pictures. However, as shown in the results, this response was significantly higher in participants with high affective empathy. This result cannot be generalized to the entire Colombian population, given the small size of the sample and its origin. Overall, the results suggest that responses of the zygomatic and corrugator muscles to stimuli with different social content are reliable indicators of affective empathy, and can be used as physiological markers of this kind of empathy in neuroscience and psychophysiology research. No evidence of desensitization was found toward aversive social stimuli in this sample.

Minimally Invasive Corrugator Resection and Backfill Using Self-made Modified Liposuction Needle in the Treatment of Moderate and Severe Glabellar Frown Lines / 中国医学科学院学报

To exploring a new minimally invasive method for the removal of moderate and severe glabellar frown lines. The corrugator supercilii muscles were subjected to blunt cutting and vacuum suction by using a self-made modified liposuction needle,and the obtained muscle particles were backfilled subcutaneously into the depression area between eyebrows to expand the wrinkles. Seventeen cases were followed up for six to twelve months after the operation.The glabellar wrinkles disappeared or became flatter in all patients. The minimally invasive corrugator resection and backfill by using self-made modified liposuction needle can effectively remove the glabellar frown lines without forming scar.

Classification of Chinese glabellar wrinkles and methods of botulinum toxin type A injection / 中华医学美学美容杂志

Objective To guide the botulinum toxin injections,the types of glabellar wrinkles and the corresponding muscle contraction patterns of aesthetic seeking patients were classified.Methods Sixty aesthetic seeking patients between 20 to 65 ages were selected randomly,whose glabellar wrinkles and muscle contraction patterns were classified and analyzed.Targeted injections of botulinum toxin were taken only within the muscles related to the wrinkles.Results Type‖accounts for 58.3％ (35/60),type ∪ accounts for 26.7％ (16/60),type ∩ accounts for 11.7％ (7/60),and type口accounts for 3.3％ (2/60).Muscle contraction receded 2 or 3 days after injection,reached optimum about 2 weeks,and then maintained 3 to 6 months.Higher satisfaction was obtained using classified injection methods.All objects achieved excellent results.Targeted injections of botulinum toxin on these muscles were able to achieve better clinical effects.Conclusions Using classified injection methods according to 4 types of aesthetic seeking patients’ glabellar wrinkles can achieve higher satisfaction.

The Regional Anatomy of the Corrugator Supercilii Muscle and Facial Nerve

Glabellar frown lines develop as a result of contraction of the corrugator supercilii muscles. These lines make look angry or aging. The neurotomy of facial nerve supplying corrugator supercilii muscle will prevent complications of the surgical technique and the reversibility of the nonsurgical technique. The regional anatomy of corrugator supercilii muscle is necessary for developing new technique. However, there is little information regarding the motor innervation of this muscle. The purpose of this study is to identify the regional anatomy of corrugator supercilii muscle and facial nerve and help to develop new technique of the neurotomy. We have dissected 6 Korean adult cadavers(12 sides). The motor innervation of this muscle was the temporal branch of facial nerve. The entry point of facial nerve into this muscle was found to be the inferolateral part. It was directly beneath the hair of lateral side of mid one-third of the eyebrow. The average distance between median plane and the entry point was 35.8mm. The measurement was not significantly different between right and left side. This study will be helpful for developing new technique of the neurotomy of motor nerve that supplies to corrugator supercilii muscle.