THE GIST:
Botox recipients took more time to process angry or sad statements. The reactions were tied to a phenomenon called the facial feedback hypothesis, researchers believe. Since Botox prevents patients from frowning, their perception of negative emotions may be impaired.Botox injections administered to reduce frown lines may also delay patients' recognition of anger and sadness around them, according to a study to be published in the journal Psychological Science.
This common cosmetic treatment uses botulinum toxin type A (BTX) -- known as Botox -- to paralyze facial muscles that control frowning and relax the surrounding skin wrinkles.
"Botox induces a kind of mild, temporary cognitive blindness to information in the world, social information about the emotions of other people," said David Havas, lead study author and a psychologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Havas' team evaluated 40 first-time Botox patients before, and then two weeks after, they underwent treatment.
On both occasions, the participants read happy, sad or angry statements, and pushed a button to indicate their comprehension of the text.
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After receiving the Botox injections, it took longer for the frown-impaired participants to process the angry and sad statements. However, the time required to process happy statements did not change.
The study results support the "facial feedback hypothesis," which states that physical expressions, such as grinning or grimacing, signal our brains to produce an emotional responses. In this case, the Botox injections prevented frowning, and so delayed the perception of negative statements.
