Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Emotion. 2023 Sep;23(6):1562-1574. doi: 10.1037/emo0001180. Epub 2022 Nov 10.
Researchers have long investigated emotion-related facial expressions, such as smiling and frowning, to further the field's understanding of behavior, emotions, and psychopathology. Fewer studies have examined ; facial expressions that do not match internal emotional experiences (e.g., smiling during frustration). Although not extensive, current accounts of incongruent affect in early childhood have assumed that these expressions indicate , an active regulatory process. Thus, many researchers contend that incongruent affect represents an adaptive emotion regulation strategy. However, little attention has been paid to incongruent affect, and its neurobiological correlates in early childhood. The present study examined complete versus partial incongruent smiling in preschool-aged children (3.5- to 5-years-old) who completed a frustration-eliciting task. We examined simultaneous neurobiological markers of incongruent smiles using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and galvanic skin response (GSR) and tested links to parent-rated emotion regulation and psychopathology. Neutral and negative expressions were assessed as comparison expressions. Results revealed that complete incongruent smiling predicted poor effortful control, whereas partial incongruent smiling was not a significant predictor of regulation, neurobiological changes, or psychopathology. Neutral expressions predicted better effortful control skills and adaptive physiological response patterns. Results suggest that incongruent affect may signal poor regulation of positive affectivity in low-interpersonal contexts, while neutral expressions may act as masking expressions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
研究人员长期以来一直研究与情绪相关的面部表情，如微笑和皱眉，以进一步了解行为、情绪和精神病理学。较少的研究检查了与内部情绪体验不匹配的面部表情（例如，在沮丧时微笑）。尽管不广泛，但目前对幼儿中不一致情感的描述假设这些表情表示一种积极的调节过程。因此，许多研究人员认为不一致的情感代表一种适应性的情绪调节策略。然而，人们对幼儿中不一致的情感及其神经生物学相关性关注甚少。本研究考察了在完成引发挫败感任务的学龄前儿童（3.5 至 5 岁）中，完全不一致和部分不一致的微笑。我们使用功能近红外光谱 (fNIRS) 和皮肤电反应 (GSR) 同时检查了不一致微笑的神经生物学标志物，并测试了与父母评定的情绪调节和精神病理学的联系。中性和负性表情被作为比较表情进行评估。结果表明，完全不一致的微笑预示着努力控制能力差，而部分不一致的微笑不是调节、神经生物学变化或精神病理学的显著预测指标。中性表情预示着更好的努力控制技能和适应性的生理反应模式。结果表明，不一致的情感可能表明在低人际环境中积极情感的调节能力差，而中性表情可能充当掩饰表情。（PsycInfo 数据库记录（c）2023 APA，保留所有权利）。
