Schilbach Leonhard, Eickhoff Simon B, Mojzisch Andreas, Vogeley Kai
Department of Psychiatry, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Soc Neurosci. 2008;3(1):37-50. doi: 10.1080/17470910701563228.
Previous investigations have shown that the perception of socially relevant facial expressions, indicating someone else's intention to communicate (e.g., smiling), correlate with increased activity in zygomaticus major muscle regardless of whether the facial expressions seen are directed towards the human observer or toward someone else (Mojzisch et al., 2006). These spontaneous, involuntary reactions have been described as facial mimicry and seem to be of considerable importance for successful interpersonal communication. We investigated whether specific neural substrates underlie these responses by performing a finite impulse response (FIR) analysis of an experiment using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the perception of socially relevant facial expressions (Schilbach et al., 2006). This analysis demonstrates that differential neural activity can be detected relative to the FIR time window in which facial mimicry occurs. The neural network found includes but extends beyond classical motor regions (face motor area) recruiting brain regions known to be involved in social cognition. This network is proposed to subserve the integration of emotional and action-related processes as part of a pre-reflective, embodied reaction to the perception of socially relevant facial expressions as well as a reflective representation of self and other.
先前的研究表明，对具有社会相关性的面部表情（表明他人的交流意图，如微笑）的感知，与颧大肌活动增加相关，无论所看到的面部表情是指向人类观察者还是其他人（莫伊齐施等人，2006年）。这些自发的、非自愿的反应被描述为面部模仿，似乎对成功的人际交流相当重要。我们通过对一项使用功能磁共振成像（fMRI）来研究具有社会相关性的面部表情感知的实验进行有限脉冲响应（FIR）分析，来探究这些反应是否有特定的神经基础（席尔巴赫等人，2006年）。该分析表明，相对于面部模仿发生的FIR时间窗口，可以检测到不同的神经活动。所发现的神经网络包括但不限于经典运动区域（面部运动区），还招募了已知参与社会认知的脑区。该网络被认为是为了将情感和与动作相关的过程整合起来，作为对具有社会相关性的面部表情感知的一种前反思性、具身反应以及自我和他人的反思性表征的一部分。
