Studies show that emotions impact reasoning, and that emotions are embodied. A recent study revealed that emotions embodied in facial expressions can modulate the impact of emotional content on reasoning accuracy. In the current study, we aimed to explore the mechanisms responsible for the impact of frowning on emotional reasoning using electrophysiology. We examined two reasoning-related ERPs: the N400 related to inference process and the N2 related to conflict detection. We also measured the LPP, associated with sustained attention to emotional stimuli. Twenty-six participants completed a reasoning task with emotional content while we recorded their brain activity with electroencephalography. In one block, they were instructed to solve syllogisms while voluntarily frowning. In another block, they were asked to solve syllogisms while contracting a non-facial muscle. Results revealed that frowning influenced sustained attention towards emotional stimuli, as measured through LPP. Frowning also showed a trend for a deleterious effect on the inference process measured through the N400. In line with the dual process models, this suggests that frowning impacts sustained attention, but surprisingly it might also impact Type 2 processes. This study provides useful insight regarding the link between reasoning and emotions in the body.

研究表明，情绪会影响推理，而情绪是具体化的。最近的一项研究表明，面部表情中体现的情绪可以调节情绪内容对推理准确性的影响。在目前的研究中，我们旨在利用电生理学探索皱眉对情绪推理影响的机制。我们检查了两个与推理相关的 ERP：与推理过程相关的 N400 和与冲突检测相关的 N2。我们还测量了与持续关注情绪刺激相关的 LPP。26 名参与者完成了一项带有情感内容的推理任务，同时我们用脑电图记录了他们的大脑活动。在一个街区中，他们被指示在自愿皱眉的同时解决三段论。在另一个街区，他们被要求在收缩非面部肌肉的同时解决三段论。结果显示，通过 LPP 测量，皱眉会影响对情绪刺激的持续关注。皱眉还显示出对通过 N400 测量的推理过程产生有害影响的趋势。与双重过程模型一致，这表明皱眉会影响持续的注意力，但令人惊讶的是，它也可能会影响类型 2 过程。这项研究提供了关于推理和身体情绪之间联系的有用见解。这表明皱眉会影响持续的注意力，但令人惊讶的是，它也可能会影响 2 类过程。这项研究提供了关于推理和身体情绪之间联系的有用见解。这表明皱眉会影响持续的注意力，但令人惊讶的是，它也可能会影响 2 类过程。这项研究提供了关于推理和身体情绪之间联系的有用见解。