BACKGROUND Facial mimicry is crucial in the recognition of others' emotional state. Thus, the observation of others' facial expressions activates the same neural representation of that affective state in the observer, along with related autonomic and somatic responses. What happens, therefore, when someone cannot mimic others' facial expressions? METHODS We investigated whether psychophysiological emotional responses to others' facial expressions were impaired in 13 children (9 years) with Moebius syndrome (MBS), an extremely rare neurological disorder (1/250,000 live births) characterized by congenital facial paralysis. We inspected autonomic responses and vagal regulation through facial cutaneous thermal variations and by the computation of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA). These parameters provide measures of emotional arousal and show the autonomic adaptation to others' social cues. Physiological responses in children with MBS were recorded during dynamic facial expression observation and were compared to those of a control group (16 non-affected children, 9 years). RESULTS There were significant group effects on thermal patterns and RSA, with lower values in children with MBS. We also observed a mild deficit in emotion recognition in these patients. CONCLUSION Results support "embodied" theory, whereby the congenital inability to produce facial expressions induces alterations in the processing of facial expression of emotions. Such alterations may constitute a risk for emotion dysregulation.

中文翻译：

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因Moebius综合征而患有面瘫的儿童在情绪处理过程中表现出降低的自主调节能力。

背景技术面部模仿对于识别他人的情绪状态至关重要。因此，观察他人的面部表情会激活观察者中该情感状态的相同神经表示，以及相关的自主和躯体反应。因此，当某人无法模仿他人的面部表情时会发生什么？方法我们调查了13名9岁的Moebius综合征（MBS）儿童（对以先天性面瘫为特征的一种极为罕见的神经系统疾病（1 / 250,000活产））对他人面部表情的心理生理情感反应是否受损。我们通过面部皮肤热变化和呼吸性窦性心律不齐（RSA）的计算来检查自主反应和迷走神经调节。这些参数提供了情绪唤醒的量度，并显示了对他人社交线索的自主适应能力。在动态面部表情观察期间记录MBS儿童的生理反应，并将其与对照组（16名未患病儿童，9岁）进行比较。结果MBS患儿对热模式和RSA有显着的群体影响，其值较低。我们还观察到这些患者在情绪识别方面存在轻度缺陷。结论结果支持“具体化”理论，即先天性无法产生面部表情会引起情绪面部表情处理的改变。这样的改变可能构成情绪失调的风险。在动态面部表情观察期间记录MBS儿童的生理反应，并将其与对照组（16名未患病儿童，9岁）进行比较。结果MBS患儿对热模式和RSA有显着的群体影响，其值较低。我们还观察到这些患者在情绪识别方面存在轻度缺陷。结论结果支持“具体化”理论，即先天性无法产生面部表情会引起情绪面部表情处理的改变。这样的改变可能构成情绪失调的风险。在动态面部表情观察期间记录MBS儿童的生理反应，并将其与对照组（16名未患病儿童，9岁）进行比较。结果MBS患儿对热模式和RSA有显着的群体影响，其值较低。我们还观察到这些患者的情绪识别能力较轻。结论结果支持“具体化”理论，即先天性无法产生面部表情会引起情绪面部表情处理的改变。这样的改变可能构成情绪失调的风险。患有MBS的儿童的价值较低。我们还观察到这些患者在情绪识别方面存在轻度缺陷。结论结果支持“具体化”理论，即先天性无法产生面部表情会引起情绪面部表情处理的改变。这样的改变可能构成情绪失调的风险。患有MBS的儿童的价值较低。我们还观察到这些患者在情绪识别方面存在轻度缺陷。结论结果支持“具体化”理论，即先天性无法产生面部表情会引起情绪面部表情处理的改变。这样的改变可能构成情绪失调的风险。