Shock research shows that Botox injections can disrupt brain activity related to recognizing emotions
- Each year, approximately 900,000 Britons receive botulinum toxin injections
- Studies show that the injections reduce the patient’s ability to express emotions
Botox injections may impair the ability to recognize others’ feelings, research suggests.
In a study that looked at happy and sad faces, the participants who had the anti-aging injections had altered brain activity in areas related to emotion.
Each year, about 900,000 Britons undergo Botox injections, which involve injecting a substance called botulinum toxin into areas of the face, such as the forehead and around the eyes and mouth. This procedure relaxes the muscles under the skin by blocking the nerve signals that cause them to contract, smoothing out wrinkles.
However, this can also reduce individuals’ ability to express emotions with facial expressions.
In the study, scientists at the University of California and researchers from Botox makers AbbVie performed brain scans on 10 women before Botox injections in the forehead and again two to three weeks later. During the scans, participants had to try to recognize anger and happiness in pictures of faces.
Each year, around 900,000 Britons undergo Botox injections, which involve injecting a substance called botulinum toxin into areas of the face, such as the forehead and around the eyes and mouth
Experts say the study’s findings show that the inability to smile or frown, which could be a result of Botox, also affects how people read other faces
The results showed that after the Botox, there was altered activity in brain regions involved in emotional processing, such as the amygdala and fusiform gyrus.
Experts say the study’s findings show that the inability to smile or frown, which can be a result of Botox, also affects how people read other faces.
Speaking to New Scientist magazine, Dr Fernando Marmolejo-Ramos, a researcher in human cognition at the University of South Australia, explained that imitating expressions helps us recognize them – our facial muscles subconsciously copy the frown or smile of the other before sending signals to the areas of the brain that interpret the emotions. Because Botox restricts this movement, it is disrupted.
“You may not be able to experience someone else’s emotions as intensely or vividly as you’d like,” he added.
Tijon Esho, who offers the shots at The Esho Clinic, said: ‘There is no doubt that Botox manipulates emotional communication. Some people want to make their faces less expressive for work – they think this will make seniors take them more seriously.
“We relate to others based on what we see in ourselves. If you can’t see or feel yourself frowning or smiling, it makes perfect sense that you’ll have a hard time seeing it in others.”