Related Experiment Videos
Voluntary facial action generates emotion-specific autonomic nervous system activity
R W Levenson1, P Ekman, W V Friesen
1Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley 94720.
Psychophysiology
|July 1, 1990
Summary
Voluntarily making emotional faces activates distinct autonomic nervous system (ANS) patterns, influencing subjective emotional experiences. These findings reveal a direct link between facial expressions and physiological responses.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Psychophysiology
Background:
- The relationship between facial expressions and physiological responses is complex.
- Understanding how voluntary facial actions influence autonomic activity is crucial for emotion research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if voluntary facial configurations elicit specific autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity patterns.
- To explore the mediation of this connection, independent of visual feedback or somatic activity.
Main Methods:
- Four experiments involved participants adopting instructed facial expressions for six emotions (anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, surprise).
- Autonomic measures including heart rate, skin conductance, and finger temperature were monitored.
- Somatic activity was also recorded to control for confounding factors.
Main Results:
- Voluntary facial expressions generated significant subjective emotional experiences.
- Distinct ANS patterns were observed between positive and negative emotions, and among negative emotions.
- These autonomic distinctions were consistent across genders, populations, and were stronger with more authentic expressions and reported emotional experience.
Conclusions:
- Voluntary facial configurations can induce emotion-specific autonomic activity.
- This effect is not dependent on visual feedback of the expressions or differences in somatic activity.
- Facial actions play a direct role in modulating physiological emotional responses.