Kraaijenvanger Eline J, Hofman Dennis, Bos Peter A
Department of Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584CS, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Department of Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584CS, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2017 Jun;77:98-106. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.03.006. Epub 2017 Mar 18.
Facial expressions are considered central in conveying information about one's emotional state. During social encounters, facial expressions of another individual are often automatically imitated by the observer, a process referred to as 'facial mimicry'. This process is assumed to facilitate prosocial behaviour and is thought to rely on the mirror neuron system, known for its involvement in both observation and execution of motor actions. However, recent studies have revealed mimicry to be a more dynamic process than previously conceptualized, leaving mere perception-action coupling insufficient to explain its behavioural flexibility. In the current review, we describe the consequences of these findings for the theoretical conceptualization of facial mimicry, and present a novel neuroendocrine model for the dynamic modulation of facial mimicry. Our model can guide research on the communicative function of facial expressions and can provide insight into the position of facial mimicry in theoretical models of empathy and social interaction.
面部表情被认为在传达个人情绪状态信息方面起着核心作用。在社交互动中，观察者常常会自动模仿另一个人的面部表情，这一过程被称为“面部模仿”。该过程被认为有助于亲社会行为，并且被认为依赖于镜像神经元系统，该系统以参与运动动作的观察和执行而闻名。然而，最近的研究表明，模仿是一个比之前概念化的更为动态的过程，仅仅感知-动作耦合不足以解释其行为灵活性。在当前的综述中，我们描述了这些发现对面部模仿理论概念化的影响，并提出了一个用于面部模仿动态调节的新型神经内分泌模型。我们的模型可以指导对面部表情交流功能的研究，并能深入了解面部模仿在共情和社会互动理论模型中的地位。
